Rarely does such a great cast turn in such a terrible performance. The acting borders on parody most of the movie, and in truth, this film is almost fodder for the bots on MST3000.
* The great actress, Lillian Gish, is relegated to playing a Southern belle. Her death scene was almost too painful to watch.
* Lionel Barrymore is never out of character, even when the role calls for it. He utters the lines that signify mood changes, but you don't believe them for a minute.
* Joseph Cotton plays a southern dandy - on a ranch in Texas no less - and looks utterly bored the entire time.
* Gregory Peck is supposed to be the bad son, but the writers couldn't seem to make up their minds whether to make him a sympathetic character of not. He winds up acting goofy instead.
* Jennifer Jones is buried in awful makeup and plays dumb most of the movie.
* Charles Bickford appears suddenly, falls in love with Jones, asks her to marry him - again, you don't believe it for a minute - and is gunned down, all in the space of about ten minutes.
* Walter Huston has a bit role as a preacher, and hams up the few scenes he appears in.
* Butterfly McQueen appears way too much and is so annoying you want to strangle her.
By far the best acting performance is turned in by Dice, the horse Peck gives to Jones early in the film.
* The great actress, Lillian Gish, is relegated to playing a Southern belle. Her death scene was almost too painful to watch.
* Lionel Barrymore is never out of character, even when the role calls for it. He utters the lines that signify mood changes, but you don't believe them for a minute.
* Joseph Cotton plays a southern dandy - on a ranch in Texas no less - and looks utterly bored the entire time.
* Gregory Peck is supposed to be the bad son, but the writers couldn't seem to make up their minds whether to make him a sympathetic character of not. He winds up acting goofy instead.
* Jennifer Jones is buried in awful makeup and plays dumb most of the movie.
* Charles Bickford appears suddenly, falls in love with Jones, asks her to marry him - again, you don't believe it for a minute - and is gunned down, all in the space of about ten minutes.
* Walter Huston has a bit role as a preacher, and hams up the few scenes he appears in.
* Butterfly McQueen appears way too much and is so annoying you want to strangle her.
By far the best acting performance is turned in by Dice, the horse Peck gives to Jones early in the film.