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The Shepherd of the Hills poster
6.6 / 10(64 votes)IMDbNR19411h 38mUnited States of America

The Shepherd of the Hills

“He Tamed Their Wild Hearts With His Courage and Won Them With His Love”

Synopsis

Young Matt Matthews, an Ozark Mountains moonshiner, hates the father he has never seen, who apparently deserted Matt's mother and left her to die. His obsession contributes to the hatred rampant in the mountains. However, the arrival of a stranger, Daniel Howitt, begins to positively affect the mountain people, who learn to shed their hatred under his gentle influence.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

The Shepherd of the Hills ≣ 1941 ≣ Trailer

Type: Trailer • Published 2026-08-10

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

July 18, 1941

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Henry Hathaway
Screenplay & Story
Grover Jones, Stuart Anthony
Original Score
Gerard Carbonara
Original Title
The Shepherd of the Hills
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 38m
Production Studios
Paramount Pictures

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Henry Hathaway

Screenplay & Story

Grover Jones, Stuart Anthony, Harold Bell Wright

Original Score & Music

Gerard Carbonara

Director of Photography

Charles Lang, W. Howard Greene

Film Editing

Ellsworth Hoagland

Producers

Jack Moss

Literary Origin & Source Material
Novel:Harold Bell Wright

Department Leadership Roster

Henry Hathaway

Henry Hathaway

Director

Grover Jones

Grover Jones

Screenplay

Stuart Anthony

Screenplay

Charles Lang

Charles Lang

Director of Photography

Ellsworth Hoagland

Editor

Jack Moss

Producer

W. Howard Greene

Director of Photography

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: NR

NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)NR

Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Shepherd of the Hills.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Shepherd of the Hills

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Shepherd of the Hills about?

Young Matt Matthews, an Ozark Mountains moonshiner, hates the father he has never seen, who apparently deserted Matt's mother and left her to die. His obsession contributes to the hatred rampant in the mountains. However, the arrival of a stranger, Daniel Howitt, begins to positively affect the mountain people, who learn to shed their hatred under his gentle influence.

Who directed The Shepherd of the Hills?

The Shepherd of the Hills was directed by Henry Hathaway.

Who stars in The Shepherd of the Hills?

The principal cast of The Shepherd of the Hills includes John Wayne, Betty Field, Harry Carey, Beulah Bondi, James Barton.

When was The Shepherd of the Hills released and how long is it?

The Shepherd of the Hills was released in 1941 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.

Who composed the musical score for The Shepherd of the Hills?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Shepherd of the Hills was composed by Gerard Carbonara.

Is The Shepherd of the Hills based on a book or true story?

The Shepherd of the Hills is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Harold Bell Wright".

What is the age rating and content advisory for The Shepherd of the Hills?

The Shepherd of the Hills holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).