a little black girl fall down a well . police search for her to no avail . soon it be discover she be see with an old white man that same day . all of this lead up to the man be arrest and racial tension rise and eventually spin out of control . entirely believable for the time and era . this terrific film study the make up of a small town and display both the town at it ugly ( when the town so easily and realistically descend into a mob ) and at it fine ( when they discover the little girl real whereabouts and set out to try and rescue her ) . the actor or actress in this film be well choose a they look and act like real townfolk .