"A striking film, a study in the conflict between the old rugged individualism and the march of progress set in the Tennessee valley during the Depression. The film is plush with fine acting, fine photography and especially fine direction. Kazan has a feeling for human drama, a deep sympathy for men's hearts and an almost omniscient tolerance. He also has a gift for making the intangible tangible, and very few of his scenes fail to enlarge or advance atmosphere, character, and story at one stroke. Although everyone has been at great pains to leave the impression that Clift's government man has a profound respect for the individuality and gallantry of Miss Van Fleet's fine old pioneer woman (whom he must dispossess to make room for a TVA reservoir), he is nevertheless a peculiarly tactless, sometimes unfeeling fellow. This is an evidence of the subtle style of Kazan, who manages to make understandable if not always sympathetic the actions taken by the townspeople, actions which in a more melodramatic context would appear merely brutish and unfeeling.... Jo Van Fleet gives one of the memorable performances of this movie year. She is nothing less than magnificent." --Paul Beckley, 1960