Summary
In a poignant exploration of familial dynamics and socio-economic pressures, The Goose Hangs High presents the Ingals family grappling with the consequences of their individual pursuits. Bernard Ingals, a municipal figure, faces financial strain due to his children's educational endeavors. As his progeny return home for Christmas Eve, their thoughtless and selfish inclinations lead them to abandon their parents for a frivolous party. This abandonment precipitates a crisis when a council member demands Bernard's reinstatement of a dismissed municipal employee, leading to his resignation. The family's matriarch, a stalwart and sagacious woman, intervenes to rectify the situation. She not only financially empowers Bernard to pursue his lifelong dream of establishing a greenhouse but also instills a much-needed dose of reality into her grandchildren, chastising their profligate lifestyle. This intergenerational conflict and resolution narrative thread weaves through themes of responsibility, familial obligation, and personal ambition, ultimately culminating in the children's reformation and gainful employment. The film concludes on a hopeful note, symbolized by the goose that hangs high, indicative of the family's restored fortunes and newfound appreciation for the values of hard work and familial unity.
Synopsis
Having a municipal position, Bernard Ingals has almost bankrupted himself sending his three children to college. The youngsters all arrive home for Christmas Eve, and their parents do their utmost to give them a good time, but the thoughtless, selfish children make other plans and go to a party, leaving their parents to a lonely dinner. A member of the common council arrives at the Ingals home and orders Bernard to reinstate a municipal employee who has been dismissed; Bernard refuses and submits his resignation. The grandmother, a strong-minded old lady, sets out to put things right: she stakes Bernard to his life-long dream, his own greenhouse; then lectures the children on their thoughtless, profligate ways. The children reform and get jobs, and the goose hangs high at last.
