Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Really Surprised!

Perfect cast and a good story

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The Cabin in the Cotton (1932) *** (out of 4) Set in the South, this melodrama from Warner deals with the rich plant owners who continue to get everything they want while the poor "tenants" continue to grow poorer and not being able to feed their children. Marvin Blake (Richard Barthelmess) grew up as one of the poor kids but after getting an education thanks to land owner Norwood (Berton Churchill) he's put in the middle of the two sides. THE CABIN IN THE COTTON isn't a complete success but the cast is so good and the direction by Michael Curtiz is so on the mark that you can't help but be entertained. The biggest thing going for the film are the performances with Barthelmess leading the way in his part as the man caught in the middle. I thought the actor did a very good job at being torn by the two sides and you really believe everything that his character is going through. Dorothy Jordan is good as the poor girl who loves him and Bette Davis is grand as the Southern Belle who's also after him. Davis is incredibly beautiful here and she fits the role perfectly and especially the now famous line dealing with her refusing to kiss because she's just washed her hair. Churchill is also very effective in his role as is David Landau, Tully Marshall and Henry B. Walthall. The biggest problem with the film is that it's quite predictable from start to finish. Also, there's a prologue saying that the producers aren't taking sides in the matter and that they're presenting this film "as is" it is in life. Well, I think having all the poor people being whites was a bit unfair and I do think this takes away from the film. Still, fans of the stars will still want to check this out.

In the case of every situation having three sides, only the truth is right here. The "Peckerwoods" (cotton field workers) and "Planters" (basicaly the man who gets the money...) all have pros and cons for each of their concerns in this depression era issue picture that showed slavery wasn't really dead. It just had a different name.Berton Churchill owns a large plot of land which he rents out to the "Peckerwoods" to tend. What they raise, they sell back to him. One of those "PW's" is David Landau who has worked for Churchill his whole life and ends up dying having barely hit middle age. He has raised an intelligent son (Richard Barthelmess) who wants to go to school, and Churchill notices potential in him, so he hires him. Already in love with poor, sweet Dorothy Jordan, Barthelmess must decide between her and Churchill's equally beautiful daughter Bette Davis, a flirt who has eyes on Barthelmess herself. Then, learning that some of the other PW's are stealing the cotton rather than selling it back to Churchill, Barthelmess is put in the position of betraying his own people.There is no real side to take. Both Churchill and the PW's are guilty of various crimes, Churchill for cheating his tenants and the PW's for theft and vandalism. This all sets up for a good plot, but unfortunately, due to some embarrassingly poor acting by Barthelmess, this ranks among Warner's weaker "poor man fighting rich man" dramas. This will always be known for a famous line uttered by Bette Davis (which was admittedly her favorite), and she really is the best thing about this movie. Her smile is radiant; Like that quote from "The Women", "She's got those eyes that run up and down a man like a searchlight." Churchill, too, is excellent; He instills his character with likability even though he's not totally honest. His character reminded me of Donald Crisp in "The Valley of Decision", a basically very good man with power trying to do the best he can, but sometimes abusing it a little. But Barthelmess was perhaps Warner Brothers' weakest leading men, genuinely boring. Something tells me he was better in silent movies. Davis had more "heat" from George Arliss. Someone like George Brent or Paul Muni would have had more presence, particularly in the final court room scene. The ending wraps everything up too neatly, something I fear would never have happened in the south in real life.

Cotton-picking farm boy Richard Barthelmess (as Marvin Blake) is saddened by the sudden death of his father, who was conflicted by young Barthelmess' growing fondness for higher education. In order to support his poor family, Barthelmess goes to work for the sharecroppers' miserly plantation owner, Berton Churchill (as Lane Norwood), who also pays for his schooling. Alas, an educated Barthelmess causes political trouble for his fatherly employer.Barthelmess is really too old to be playing a school-age kid. The costume, lighting, and make-up do not hide the strain. Fortunately, Barthelmess, a fine actor, would follow this with some more suitable roles, like "Heroes for Sale" (1933). "The Cabin in the Cotton" has good direction (by Michael Curtiz), an interesting story, and a finely-wizened supporting cast. Barthelmess' leading ladies are sweet Dorothy Jordan (as Betty Wright) and sassy Bette Davis (as Madge Norwood). Ms. Davis, who delivers the memorable line, "I'd like to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair," is outstanding.***** The Cabin in the Cotton (10/15/32) Michael Curtiz ~ Richard Barthelmess, Bette Davis, Dorothy Jordan, Berton Churchill

The lead (37 when the movie was made) is obviously too old for the part.He is gauche,clumsy,nothing of a working class hero.He's supposed to be clever and educated but we do not feel it.Fortunately the supporting cast is up to scratch ,with a superb Bette Davis at her bitchiest.It's a wonder she can be seduced by such an oaf.Marvin is a smart young man who knows that the way to get out of poverty in the cotton fields is education.Note that his dad passes away as he is reading an article in a newspaper which advocates the right of peoples to education ,be they rich or poor ..During all the movie,Marvin will be caught in the crossfire: his boss,a land owner(Madge's (Davis) father),after laughing when Marvin's father tells him his sonny wants to study quickly understands the whiz kid could be a marvelous informer.When the young man becomes a gentleman ,the tenants feel they are betrayed by one of them..Curtiz superbly places side by side the two worlds during Betty's and Madge's parties.Marvin is ill-at-ease in both.In Betty's house ,he has become out of place in his Sunday's best.In Madge's desirable mansion,during the ball with a jazz band (that costs a arm and a leg,as Marvin tells to his brothers in his final speech), those vulgar popular dances are held up to ridicule by the wealthy man's daughter's guests.The conclusion is the reconciliation between capital and labor (the cooperation) a la "Metropolis" where Marvin is the arbitrator.Curtiz never forgot to tell a story and this old film,despite the reservation expressed about the male lead,can still grab today's audience.Anyway,the numerous Davis' fans would not like to miss one of her early films.