The Green Promise

The Green Promise is a 1948 American drama film directed by William D. Russell. The film was co-produced by Houston oilman Glenn McCarthy and leading man Robert Paige to display the concept and meaning of the 4-H Club and highlight farming issues such as soil erosion, government programs, and individual enterprise. The title refers to a scene where the local preacher gives a sermon on a story from the Book of Exodus of God's "green promise" to lead Moses into a land of milk and honey. The preacher reminds his congregation that the fulfillment of the promise requires faith, difficult journeys and open-mindedness.

During the storm scene shot at Goldwyn Studios, Natalie Wood was supposed to run across a bridge, which would collapse into the torrent of water beneath, after she reached the opposite side. However, the stunt went wrong, and the bridge collapsed while Wood was still on it. She fell into the water, banging her left wrist as she fell. Though she managed to pull herself back up, the young actress was shaken and her wrist was broken. The bone was not set correctly and healed so that it protruded from the wrist. She would thereafter disguise the protruding bone with a bracelet.

A nationwide contest for a 4-H Club girl to have a small part in the picture was won by Jeanne LaDuke who shared a tutor with Natalie Wood.