All these weeks of watching various movies featuring cast members-both regular and recurring-of the original "Dallas" series in chronological order and now I've seen a movie-based on Erskine Caldwall's novel-that has the kind of plot worthy of the soap operatics like "Dallas" itself is known for! Only in the opposite economic direction. Now, unless you've watched the series from the beginning, you probably didn't know Tina Louise had indeed recurred on the show during the early years (I didn't know either until I read up on the show at Wikipedia) as Julie Grey, J.R.'s first secretary and the first one on the show to have an affair with him. Here-in her film debut, she's Griselda Walden, daughter-in-law of dirt poor farmer Ty Ty Walden (Robert Ryan) who's in the condition he's in because of his having spent the last 15 years searching for gold in his farmland he thinks his late grandfather buried there on the premises. He has two sons Buck and Shaw (Jack Lord and Vic Morrow) who help him in the digging and a couple of daughters Darlin' Jill and Rosamund (Fay Spain and Helen Westcott) of which one is loose-Jill-and one is married-Rosamund-to a Bill Thompson (Aldo Ray) though he has eyes for the gorgeous Griselda. And director Anthony Mann sure shows how, pardon the expression, stacked Ms. Louise is especially when both Aldo and Tina are together in that one scene at night with him touching her on her side and the way the camera just closes tight on her upper chest. Anyway, there's also Buddy Hackett as Pluto Swint who's running for sheriff and has a massive crush on Jill though she's not loyal enough to him to not also fool around with an Albino named Dave Dawson (Michael Landon). Dawson is supposed to help in looking for the gold since his kind as supposedly good at that sort of thing. All right, before I start to really spoil the story, I'll just say that I was quite fascinated by the whole thing and liked the characters, backwards thinking some of them might be, for their humanity and somewhat relatable flaws. I mean, Jack Lord-best known as the serious-minded Steve McGarrett on the original "Hawaii Five-O"-was quite a revelation to me as the more hot-headed Buck who's always jealous of wife Griselda. One more fascinating character was that of Jim Leslie Walden (Lance Fuller), the only son of Ty Ty who rose above his lot to marry a rich woman and detests his entire family especially his father for basically staying the same during all that time. Had there not been a Larry Hagman, Fuller could have easily taken the J.R. Ewing role based on his performance here. And finally, there's Uncle Felix (Rex Ingram), an African-American farmhand who seems quite wise when telling Ty Ty how wasteful he's been in neglecting the farming duties for the constant search for gold. All in all, these are very fascinating performances for everyone involved and they all deserve kudos for giving it their all. Ryan, especially, for being the glue as the Walden patriarch in trying, and not always succeeding, in keeping his family together. And I'm also glad to see Hackett get a couple of funny scenes whether being accidentally getting hit by dirt or falling in one of those big dug holes! So in summary, God's Little Acre gets a high recommendation from me.

In 1933 while America endured the Great Depression, Erskine Caldwell published his controversial novel " God's Little Acre. " Condemmed, reviled and even Banned, the book continued to sell, but not without consequences. While the author was arrested and jailed, his novel went onto the silver screen and revealed the painful secrets many wanted to keep secret. By today's social standards, the book and the forbidden Black and White scenes in the movie are mild and considered hardly exciting. Yet, in the Baptist south and most of the religious, conservative towns, these scandalous scenes often lead to dangerous censorship. Viewed by Modern audiences, little in the story is shocking. Erskine's book tell of Ty Ty Walden (Robert Ryan), a poor George farmer who inherited his father's farm and a dubious story of buried gold hidden somewhere on the farm. Together with his sons Buck (Jack Lord) and Shaw (Vic Marrow) they spend years seeking the treasure. Ty Ty's daughters Griselda (Tina Louise), Darlin' Jill and Rosamund (Helen Westcott) have their own problems but handle them accordingly. Griselda is aware of how much her former boyfriend Billy Thompson (Aldo Ray) desires her and encourages him. Jill is an exciting and playful scamp who plays to whomever is around, earning her a sinful reputation, especially with Plato Swint (Buddy Hackett), the Sheriff to be. Michael Landon is surprising as 'The Albino' Dave Dawson. The story is simple enough, but it's scandalous nature created a aura of sex and debauchery, that insured a Classic in movie circles. A good vehicle for Robert Ryan and it's Nice to see him as a good guy for once. ****

I saw this movie soon after it was released when I was seventeen. Recently, I caught it again on late night TV; now, over fifty years later, I still count this one as one of the most interesting collection of oddball characters ever put to film. And all wrapped up in a timeless story about human frailties, family values and impossible dreams.Without doubt, this is the film that launched Tina Louise's lacklustre career into a series of B-movies of the late fifties and early sixties, followed by seemingly endless appearances in mindless TV drama and sitcoms over the next thirty-five years. What a shame: because I think her debut film role as Griselda Walden set a new standard for the term 'sex appeal' – and once seen, never forgotten, especially her first appearance with sunlight behind her, outlining her entire body through her thin, cotton shift. So, see this film for Tina Louise in action, if for no other reason.Erskine Caldwell's whole story is definitely worth watching, however. Actually, there are a number of stories beginning with old man Ty Ty Walden (Robert Ryan) and his fifteen-year, frenetic search for his grandfather's gold, supposedly buried somewhere on his farm: with that underlying scenario, Caldwell satirically skewers the lust for wealth that trap too many of us in ephemeral dreams which blind us to the reality around us. Robert Ryan gives his all, in what I regard as one of his best roles.Interwoven with Ty Ty's quest, we see unfold the bodily lust that Will Thompson (Aldo Ray) has for Griselda, the wife to embittered and jealous Buck Walden (Jack Lord). When Will has the hots for Griselda on a feverish summer night, and they stand in darkness, fingers entwined, at the corner of the house, sweat steaming off their bodies, you see one of the finest pieces of bodily eroticism ever put to film – and an image that's still used today, as the above poster on this page shows.The lust for power is given its comic turn with Sheriff wannabe Pluto Swint (Buddy Hackett) trying to get votes from all and sundry. With a name like Pluto – on the edge of society physically, mentally and emotionally – how far can he get? Well, he's also pining for the hand in marriage of Ty Ty's other daughter, Darlin' Jill (Fay Spain). With Pluto, Darlin' Jill pulls off an open-air, erotic bathtub scene that must be seen for its bawdy humor and Freudian overtones. Not to be missed...Wrap all that around Will Thomspon's efforts to power up the bankrupt local cotton mill again, add Ty Ty's visit to his only financially-successful son (to ask for money), Jim Leslie (Lance Fuller), and you have a succession of vignettes that pretty much cover the whole gamut of what it means to be human. Watch for very young Michael Landon (as the albino) and Vic Morrow (as Shaw Walden). Happily, with such an interpersonal imbroglio to appreciate fully, the cast fully delivers. Some argue it's over the top; and so it is, because it's mostly social satire.One puzzlement: the mise-en-scene looks and feels Depression era, but the presence of mid-1950s autos belies that. One wonders if that was a deliberate ploy by the producer and director. The black-and-white photography is exquisite; the sound track is appropriate, given the social milieu of the times, but I could do without it.Overall, it's a classic film which, despite winning no awards, should still be seen by all film lovers.

Ty Ty Walden, a widower lives in the backwoods of Georgia with his daughters.For the last 15 years he has been searching for gold from his land.This man doesn't know the words give up.God's Little Acre (1958) is a movie based on the novel by Erskine Caldwell.It's directed by Anthony Mann.The title song heard in the beginning is awfully cheerful.The movie shows us some fantastic characters played by great actors.Robert Ryan plays the part of Ty Ty.Aldo Ray plays Bill Thompson.Jack Lord is Buck Walden.Vic Morrow plays Shaw Walden.Helen Westcott is Rosamund.Tina Louise plays Griselda.Michael Landon plays the part of Dave Dawson, the albino.It's hard to recognize him as the same guy of Little House on the Prairie.Fay Spain is Darlin' Jill.The funny guy Buddy Hackett is Pluto Swint, Sheriff Candidate.The scenes between Pluto and Darlin' Jill are often hilarious.There's that certain erotic atmosphere there in many scenes.That combined with serious drama and funniness you have a good movie.