It’s in color and cinemascope but is still very much a Kazan film- driven by characters, their discourse and paced with strong performances
Solid color photography- location shooting in Tennessee
Opening doc footage in black and white
A tender performance by Clift
debut of bruce dern in a very small role
similar topic to deliverance and o brother with the flooding
Kazan is such a marvel with actors- the trio here- clift, lee remick and jo van fleet are just superb—Clift, even after his accident when he’s no longer a matinee idol with his looks and surgery- stiffer features- is still very good and it’s his only time working with Kazan. Kazan worked with all 3 method actors famous for the approach at the time- James Dean (east of eden), Brando, and Clift
There’s a tendency in kazan’s films towards speechmaking
Remick is more than just a pretty face and those blue eyes which are mesmerizing in color—she’s very good
The film takes its time but it’s well written- there is no melodrama here—themes of tradition vs progress
There’s a great shot of the door cracked open by van fleet with her indoors and clift in the distance in the opening of the door
Great set piece ending of chopping down massive trees
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