Friendly Persuasion (1956): cast, story & where to watch
1956 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1956, Friendly Persuasion is a comedy, drama, war and family film directed by William Wyler, running about 137 minutes. “Here's A Superb Motion Picture Full Of Fun... Laughter and Happiness.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The story of a family of Quakers in Indiana in 1862. Their religious sect is strongly opposed to violence and war. It's not easy for them to meet the rules of their religion in everyday life but when Southern troops pass the area they are in real trouble. Should they fight, despite their peaceful attitude?
Who’s in it. Friendly Persuasion stars Gary Cooper as Jess Birdwell, Dorothy McGuire as Eliza Birdwell, Anthony Perkins as Josh Birdwell and Richard Eyer as Little Jess Birdwell, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Friendly Persuasion has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $8M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Friendly Persuasion page.
If you liked it. Fans of Friendly Persuasion tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Friendly Persuasion (1956)?
- In US, Friendly Persuasion is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Friendly Persuasion worth watching?
- Friendly Persuasion holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama, war and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Friendly Persuasion?
- Friendly Persuasion stars Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Anthony Perkins, Richard Eyer and Robert Middleton.
- When was Friendly Persuasion released?
- Friendly Persuasion was released in 1956, with a runtime of about 137 minutes.