it too bad this film be always be compare with john ford production of the grape of wrath . while they both cover general ground and they be quite different structurally . the southerner be almost plot less and rely on slice of early american life a homesteader struggle to keep their farm intact . apparently the critic be divide on this one and many call it one of jean renior great achievement and while others feel it only slightly above average . admittedly and attention to innovative stark realism be pair with some rather predictable stock situation . all in all though for me and it an engross film and and an honest one . a great point of interest be zachary scott and in his second screen role . minus his characteristic mustache and play a simple tiller of the soil and he seem strangely cast . be so use to his ultra slick and amoral role and that see him in this film be rather startle . not to say he wasn not good at it . there just something about his angular face and sharp and thin nose and that suggest he ought to be more in a tailored tux than wrinkly overall . read scott bio be informative represent not a particularly happy life and career and despite his impressive seventy total credit . i get the feeling that warner bros. simply do not know what to do with him and follow mildred pierce and flamingo road . maybe they felt he be so convincing in these sinister role that the public wouldn not buy him a other type . whatever the case and his private life seem rather glum and lacking vitality . ( could also be his first name may have be a downer in the long run . ) the support cast of the southerner be fine and and the film remain a strong depiction of early rural life in america .