God's Little Acre (1958) DVD

This rolicking look inside the rural Deep South brings to life the primitive, ribald rustics of Erskine Caldwell's steamy bestselling novel. Bot humourous and heartrending, this critically acclaimed film reveals the hidden passions and violent impulses heating up beneath the hot Southern sun, as well as the warmth and humour of every day life. A poor sharecropper's family struggling to survive is nearly torn apart as the patriarch stubbornly pursues his belief that gold is buried somewhere on his land. Nothing will stop him as he goes to outrageous lengths in his efforts to find the treasure. Directed by Antony Mann (Cimarron, El Cid), Robert Ryan gives a stunning performance as the rugged family patriarch. The star-packed cast also includes Tina Louise before being marooned as Ginger on 'Gilligan's Island'as the sultry Griselda, 'Bonanza's' Little Joe Michael Landon playing the albino farm-hand Dave Lawson; Jack Lord before 'Hawaii 5-0'and funny man Buddy Hackett. God's Little Acre is full of hope and courage despite the most dire circumstances.