Wild River (1960)

In the early 1930s, a government agent (Montgomery Clift) attempts to convince the lone hold out (Jo Van Fleet) to sell her land in order for the government to flood the land. While the old woman defies both he and the government, the agent romances the woman's granddaughter (Lee Remick). Based on two novels, DUNBAR'S COVE by Borden Deal and MUD ON THE STARS by William Bradford Huie and directed by Elia Kazan. One can't help but wish the film were a little better. Not that it's bad because it isn't. It's just that its potential is undermined by the contrivances of its plot. The romance between Clift and Remick isn't very interesting and takes up much of the time. The real interest is in Jo Van Fleet's feisty Ella Garth, an old woman whose existence is defined by her land and if it is taken from her, she has nothing. Van Fleet's performance is unforgettable and long after the film's images start to fade, it's her performance that stays. The portrayal of Southerners is pretty stereotypical. They're bigoted, ignorant and they beat up outsiders. I'm not saying these conditions didn't exist but everybody? Surely, there were some decent people. The discreet score is by Kenyon Hopkins and the excellent CinemaScope cinematography by Ellsworth Fredericks (SEVEN DAYS IN MAY). With Bruce Dern, Albert Salmi, Frank Overton and Barbara Loden.