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The Well (1951)
Directors: Leo C. Popkin (as Leo Popkin), Russell Rouse
Cast: Gwendolyn Laster, Richard Rober, Maidie Norman
Genre: Drama, Thriller


About: A small racially mixed town erupts into mob hysteria and is nearly destroyed by hatred, after a white man is arrested as a suspect in the kidnapping of a black school girl. The black and white residents then begin to suspect each other and mob violence breaks out. The girl has actually fallen down a well, but each side suspects the other of wrong doing and hysteria fuels their hatred based on fear.



Review: A very important 'message film' from 1951, about the dangers of race hatred and social conformity. The Well is almost unknown today and that's too bad because the film makers were ahead of their time in the depiction of hate mongering, hysterics and racial fears.

I was impressed that this film took on such a tough subject way back in 1951. Some might say that this film is dated and that it delivers its message in a heavy handed way. And it does come on strong, but it's not really fair to judge the film by today's film making standards. For me it's not only a historically important film, it had a powerful story that is sadly still relevant today.

The rescue effort of drilling a counter shaft next to the well where the little girl is trapped, might go on a bit long, but it does seem to get the facts correct on how such a rescue effort would be mounted.



Most of the cast are unknowns and some were non-professional actors with this being their only movie credit. And that works well, as the film avoids being a Hollywood movie and instead seems like a documentary.

Harry Morgan, best known as Col. Potter on M*A*S*H* plays the falsely accused stranger who was last seen buying flowers for the missing girl. He does one helluva fine acting job.

At only 86 minutes this is an easy watch and one movie you won't soon forget.

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