There is no actual Raintree County in Indiana -- but then, Ross Lockridge wrote a novel, not a history book. As a native Hoosier, I noticed that a lot of the countryside scenes DO look a lot like southern Indiana. But I noticed that among the credits at the start of the movie were grateful thanks to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the people of Tennessee and Kentucky. Excuse me? Is it possible that this Hollywood filming crew never set foot in the Hoosier state?
As to the acting, well, Elizabeth Taylor does do a masterful -- mistressful? -- job of playing the dark-haired beauty from the South who meets and falls in love with Montgomery Clift in his small Indiana town. She handles the various twists and turns of the plot and her character well, and well deserved her Academy Award nomination.
Then there's Montgomery Clift. He looks convincingly Civil War in costume and well-coiffed black hair. But ... somehow or other, his facial expressions, his delivery of his lines, the whole way his character comes across, reminded me of a young actor, unsure of himself, in his first stage play. I don't claim to be any expert on his films in general, but as Johnny Shaughnessy I think he falls somewhat short.
And here's one more thing: At several points in the film, the "Hoosiers" have occasion to mention the state capitol, Indianapolis. And they pronounce it, accenting each letter, especially the "O" near the end. Sorry, folks, that isn't how we Hoosiers pronounce the name of our "Naptown." Try this: "Indanap'lis." It reminded me of another movie from the same era, "Some Came Running," also set in Indiana. When some actor had occasion to mention the city Terre Haute, he said "Terry Hout". And I said, "WHAT?"
To sum up, a good, entertaining Civil War movie -- but with some weaknesses that I think could have been avoided.
As to the acting, well, Elizabeth Taylor does do a masterful -- mistressful? -- job of playing the dark-haired beauty from the South who meets and falls in love with Montgomery Clift in his small Indiana town. She handles the various twists and turns of the plot and her character well, and well deserved her Academy Award nomination.
Then there's Montgomery Clift. He looks convincingly Civil War in costume and well-coiffed black hair. But ... somehow or other, his facial expressions, his delivery of his lines, the whole way his character comes across, reminded me of a young actor, unsure of himself, in his first stage play. I don't claim to be any expert on his films in general, but as Johnny Shaughnessy I think he falls somewhat short.
And here's one more thing: At several points in the film, the "Hoosiers" have occasion to mention the state capitol, Indianapolis. And they pronounce it, accenting each letter, especially the "O" near the end. Sorry, folks, that isn't how we Hoosiers pronounce the name of our "Naptown." Try this: "Indanap'lis." It reminded me of another movie from the same era, "Some Came Running," also set in Indiana. When some actor had occasion to mention the city Terre Haute, he said "Terry Hout". And I said, "WHAT?"
To sum up, a good, entertaining Civil War movie -- but with some weaknesses that I think could have been avoided.