I really liked the strong allegories for the north versus the south paired with the price of progress on those unwilling to change. I unfortunately feel that there is a better cut of this movie that exists in which the B plot is able to shine for much longer. On-screen relationships, foreshadowing, and high concept set pieces never feel that they are given enough time to breathe. The only exception to this is the relationship between Chuck and Carol, which I feel gets entirely too much real estate for two actors that have seemingly little chemistry in this movie. Montgomery Clift usually steals the show for me in every film I’ve seen him in, but he doesn’t do too much for me here. No one does an outright bad job, in fact Jo Van Fleet as Ella Garth puts on a performance that transforms her character from close-minded villain to sympathetic victim. I just wish that the rest of the cast lived up to their roles.

I really liked the strong allegories for the north versus the south paired with the price of progress on those unwilling to change. I unfortunately feel that there is a better cut of this movie that exists in which the B plot is able to shine for much longer. On-screen relationships, foreshadowing, and high concept set pieces never feel that they are given enough time to breathe. The only exception to this is the relationship between Chuck and Carol, which I feel gets entirely too much real estate for two actors that have seemingly little chemistry in this movie. Montgomery Clift usually steals the show for me in every film I’ve seen him in, but he doesn’t do too much for me here. No one does an outright bad job, in fact Jo Van Fleet as Ella Garth puts on a performance that transforms her character from close-minded villain to sympathetic victim. I just wish that the rest of the cast lived up to their roles.