This film has an atmosphere of "grit" to it, and the title helps suggest that. It's a story of a small person against a large corporation in the early part of the twentieth century.
There are four major characters that are the focus of the story. The beautiful young woman played by Faye Dunaway is holding onto a well in which she hopes oil will emerge is the catalyst. John Mills plays her father, a stranger to her, arrives, trying to make amends and help her against a mercenary leader played by Jack Palance, hired by the huge oil company to steal her claim. The fourth is the "drifter", the "everyman" who is swept up into the act as her employee, played by George C Scott.
A lot of what happens is very fresh even today, and goes against the "usual story line". Very unexpected events.
What makes a simple story become a good story is the supporting characters, and this film cleverly makes the story actually be seen through the eyes mostly of the "fifth and sixth characters", both from very different social castes. These two are the witnesses from both castes who would want something better than the bloodshed that goes on. We only get glimpses of this, as they watch the four main characters duke it out, but both try vainly to bring sense to the situation. They are the "eyes" of the viewer put into the story. It is quite well done.
There are four major characters that are the focus of the story. The beautiful young woman played by Faye Dunaway is holding onto a well in which she hopes oil will emerge is the catalyst. John Mills plays her father, a stranger to her, arrives, trying to make amends and help her against a mercenary leader played by Jack Palance, hired by the huge oil company to steal her claim. The fourth is the "drifter", the "everyman" who is swept up into the act as her employee, played by George C Scott.
A lot of what happens is very fresh even today, and goes against the "usual story line". Very unexpected events.
What makes a simple story become a good story is the supporting characters, and this film cleverly makes the story actually be seen through the eyes mostly of the "fifth and sixth characters", both from very different social castes. These two are the witnesses from both castes who would want something better than the bloodshed that goes on. We only get glimpses of this, as they watch the four main characters duke it out, but both try vainly to bring sense to the situation. They are the "eyes" of the viewer put into the story. It is quite well done.