The Light in the Forest
“He was torn between his parents ... and the tribe that raised him.”
Synopsis
A young white man who spent his whole life raised by a Native American tribe is sent to live with his true family and must learn to fit in with the people he was taught to hate.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Fess Parker
Del Hardy
Wendell Corey
Wilse Owens
Joanne Dru
Milly Elder
James MacArthur
Johnny Butler / True Son
Jessica Tandy
Myra Butler
John McIntire
John Elder
Joseph Calleia
Chief Cuyloga
Carol Lynley
Shenandoe
Rafael Campos
Half Arrow
Frank Ferguson
Harry Butler
Dean Fredericks
Niskitoon
Marian Seldes
Kate Owens
Stephen Bekassy
Col. Henry Bouquet
Sam Buffington
George Owens
Iron Eyes Cody
Cuyloga's Counsellor
Myrna Fahey
Hannah Moore
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 8, 1958
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Herschel Daugherty
- Screenplay & Story
- Lawrence Edward Watkin
- Original Score
- Paul J. Smith
- Original Title
- The Light in the Forest
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Production Studios
- Walt Disney Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Herschel Daugherty
Lawrence Edward Watkin, Conrad Richter
Paul J. Smith
Ellsworth Fredericks
Stanley E. Johnson
Walt Disney
Department Leadership Roster
Lawrence Edward Watkin
Screenplay
Ellsworth Fredericks
Director of Photography
Stanley E. Johnson
Editor
Walt Disney
Producer
Paul J. Smith
Original Music Composer
Herschel Daugherty
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Light in the Forest.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Light in the Forest.
Missing Mine
Golden Globe Nominated Titles - IMDb
Disney
"It was all started with a mouse"
Walt Disney Live Action
Walt Disney Pictures Collection
Walt Disney Pictures Feature Films
list_Western
Movies categorized under Western
Similar Titles to The Light in the Forest
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.7
7.1
8.0
6.2
6.6
7.1
10.0
7.0
6.4
7.0
6.6
6.7
5.5
6.3
7.0
8.0
6.8
6.5
5.3
5.3
More Like The Light in the Forest
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Light in the Forest
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Light in the Forest about?
A young white man who spent his whole life raised by a Native American tribe is sent to live with his true family and must learn to fit in with the people he was taught to hate.
Who directed The Light in the Forest?
The Light in the Forest was directed by Herschel Daugherty.
Who stars in The Light in the Forest?
The principal cast of The Light in the Forest includes Fess Parker, Wendell Corey, Joanne Dru, James MacArthur, Jessica Tandy.
When was The Light in the Forest released and how long is it?
The Light in the Forest was released in 1958 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for The Light in the Forest?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Light in the Forest was composed by Paul J. Smith.
Is The Light in the Forest based on a book or true story?
The Light in the Forest is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Conrad Richter".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Light in the Forest?
The Light in the Forest holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).