Zachary Scott overcomes his lack of screen presence to deliver a career best performance as the cotton-picker who dares to farm his own patch of land in Jean Renoir's slice-of-life drama. Nature, and a bolshy neighbour, takes offence at Scott's nerve and threaten to demolish his dream - but leave wife Betty Field's hair and make-up intact. Decent enough, but it lacks bite.
Review of The Southerner
