Coporal John McBurney (Clint Eastwood) of the Union Army has been wounded in battle behind enemy lines in the Deep South in the American Civil War. He is helped by Amy (Pamelyn Ferdin), the youngest pupil of a young ladies school run by Martha Farnsworth (Geraldine Page). Most of the girls are wary of this enemy soldier and while he is being treated are unsure as to whether hand him over or help him. In the meantime, both the girls and teacher and McBurney try to take advantage of their situation.
Once again the partnership of Eastwood and director Don Siegel proves its worth and what a successful collaboration it was. There are no distinct heroes and villains here as both McBurney and the women try to using sex as power - McBurney seduces the eldest girl and most sensible, if sexually repressed (Elizabeth Hartman), the most sexually provocative (and manipulative) of the women (Jo Ann Harris) and the Headmistress (Geraldine Page).
It is atmospherically shot in Louisiana, complete with Spanish moss hanging trees by Eastwood regular Bruce Surtees. However, the dark tone of the film meant that it was not a box-office success, yet has become one of the most interesting and psychological of Eastwood's films in the 1970s. It is also a strong performance by the star, and perhaps his best performance up to that point, though soon he would start taking more of a direct role as a director.
Once again the partnership of Eastwood and director Don Siegel proves its worth and what a successful collaboration it was. There are no distinct heroes and villains here as both McBurney and the women try to using sex as power - McBurney seduces the eldest girl and most sensible, if sexually repressed (Elizabeth Hartman), the most sexually provocative (and manipulative) of the women (Jo Ann Harris) and the Headmistress (Geraldine Page).
It is atmospherically shot in Louisiana, complete with Spanish moss hanging trees by Eastwood regular Bruce Surtees. However, the dark tone of the film meant that it was not a box-office success, yet has become one of the most interesting and psychological of Eastwood's films in the 1970s. It is also a strong performance by the star, and perhaps his best performance up to that point, though soon he would start taking more of a direct role as a director.