Made in 1951, The Well is a powerful cinematic gem. During a turbulent time of tensions between the races, this little film had an important message. I think it is still valid today as it was over 50 years ago. The film was even recommended by Eleanor Roosevelt, who I think can be considered America's peace ambassador. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards- editing and screenplay. And a wonderful score by Dmitiri Tiomkin. Now, the only recognizable actor is Joe Morgan, of Dragnet and M*A*S*H fame.
The story begins with a little African American girl happily skipping in a field on her way to school; she's got some flowers in her hand. As she flits, she falls down a hole into a precipice. This is where the story gets interesting. She never makes it home after school and the parents call the sheriff. Everyone in the neighborhood looks for her but never find her. Apparently she was seen before school in front of the flower shop where a man allegedly took her by the hand, after buying her some flowers. Oh, the man was white. Tensions mount as foul play is hinted at. The town whips into a heated frenzy of a small racial battle. The African Americans blame the white folks for this problem. The typical "had it been one of us doing this to a little white girl" comes out full force. Then, the insidious "g" word comes into play. The townfolk spread gossip like it's free ice cream. The gossip turns everyone into violent vigilantes...the law is taken into one's hand.
One of the characters is coming through town and stops to visit his uncle who own a warehouse. He is on his way looking for work in a mine; he is a great miner and can handle profound depths. The nephew turns out to be the suspect, as everyone saw him take the little girl buy the hand. He does confess that he bought the flowers, but did no harm to her. No one believe him. Leave it to a boy and his dog playing in the field to discover where the little girl is.
The alleged crime disperses the population into a ravenous, hate-filled hamlet. But once the truth is known, they all come together to rescue the child. The power of coming together humbles humanity. Afterall, it is an innocent child who is being rescued after a few days trapped in a well. Why is that tragedies bring us together and once it ends, we go back to our gruesome selves. The scenes involving the rescue are as vivid today as they were back then. The scenes offer hope, especially to an America in the early 1950s. Watch it today and you can still have that hope in 2010!
Gossip is such a hurtful activity. The film vividly shows what gossip can do to a small community. The frenzy portrayed is similar to a Twilight Zone episode, "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." Tensions between the races, gossip, violence....all horrible monsters created by humanity due to fear, ignorance and intolerance. This is a film I highly recommend. It is a product of its time, but can still be viewed today, as IMHO, some things we choose to repeat. I don't want to be preachy...I will let the film and your thoughts to that.
