an employee name sam tucker ( zachary scott ) frequently work for others be hire some land and he decide along with his family and his wife ( betty field ) and granny ( beulah bondi ) and two son attempt farm for themselves . the family find hardship on their way and they will have to fight against the element and ill and poorness and distress and a selfish neighbor ( j. carroll naish ) living with his daughter ( nash ) and niece ( norman lloyd ) . this be a rural drama about a survival fight amid all disgrace and terrible element . it a naturalistic drama splendidly play and magnificently stag . from the tale hold autumn in your hand by george session perry and write by william faulkner though he appear uncredited . it proceed in similar style to ¨grapes of wrath¨ by john ford base on john steinbeck novel . first rate performance by all star cast . special mention to belulah bondi a sympathetic and and grumpy granny . and norman lloyd a roguish nephew and he a veteran player still act and who join the original company of orson welles john houseman mercury theatre and after that he be hire to hollywood to play a secondary actor in alfred hitchcock movie and other one and make him an associate producer . neo realist and evocative cinematography by lucien andriot . sensible and imaginative musical score by werner janssen . the flick be excellently direct by jean renoir . he say about the southerner give him more pleasure than any of his other hollywood work . renoir be vote the 12th great director of all time . furthermore and orson welles frequently cite him a the great movie director of all time . he be son of the famous impressionist painter auguste renoir . after his french classic ( rule of game 1939 and human beast 38 and la marseillase 36 and a day in the country 36 and boudu save from drown 32 ) and he be bring to usa by american producer and direct awesome film in hollywood ( woman on the beach 1947 and the diary of a chambermaid 46 and the southerner and the land be mine 43 and swamp water 1941 ) . later on and he return to france and go on film make classic movie ( elusive corporal 1962 and picnic on the grass 59 and testament of dr cordelier 59 and golden coach 52 and the river 1951 ) . rating represent good than average and well worth watch .