Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

This sentimental trip back to the thirties won multiple Academy Awards for Benton and a teary eyed Sally Fields claimed an Oscar. She deserved it. But when you think about it, how many actors would ever be recognized with an Academy Award without the supporting cast? In the case of Ed Harris, he has come close a couple of times. But most of the time, he does his part, creates a memorable character and steps aside for others.

What I am hoping to show by my choices of the films taken for these three postings (in addition to other reviews I’ve written about Ed) is his range. He is not stuck in a particular role, or an image, although it must have been hard to break out of the 'goody two shoes' role he established in The Right Stuff for John Glenn. In Places in the Heart, he occupies a place in the heart (and beds) of two women, neither of them the main character of the flick. So why mention it at all?

Glad you asked.

In this film, Ed is not a hero. He isn’t evil either. He is just flawed, although philandering husbands may not think it much of a problem. He is shown as a man with to put it bluntly “pecker” problems, i.e.: inability to keep it where it belongs. His performance gets no rave reviews from critics, and in fact, the audience isn’t supposed to like him much. Surprisingly, we do. His love scenes both with his wife and his married girlfriend (who would in real life become his wife) are tender, and he isn’t shown as a man without heart or dignity. He’s just a man, and his humanity is perhaps his best attribute.


Robert Benton wrote and directed the film, starring Sally Fields, and a very strong back up cast. Benton started his career as an editor for Esquire magazine. The script for Bonnie and Clyde (1967) won him acclaim, and he had successes with the Superman (1978) movie, and Kramer Vs Kramer, (1979), as a writer. Benton has directed nine features (so far) (Including Kramer vs. Kramer) but he had a couple of failures , in particular Still of the Night, a would be thriller mystery. It would seem that when Benton sticks to basics, a simple story backed with a closer look at the human heart, he can produce a masterpiece. Places in the Heart is One Such Work.

It is less common today that audiences would flock to see a movie as simple and heart warming as this tale. There are no special effects, no big fight scenes, no gratuitous sex, and none of the flashy things we seek at the movies in our retreat from the mundane. This movie IS sentimental, almost cloying to sophisticated critics. I am not so sophisticated.

The sub themes of this flick are a little less mundane, and a little harder to face. A single theme that surfaces in an ugly way time and again, is racism. While it takes place in the South, it could have been anywhere in the thirties. Let me repeat this, in case you didn’t hear me. It could have been anywhere in the thirties, maybe expressed differently, but racism just the same.

A second theme is the plight of a single woman raising two young children. Women were not in the workplace to any great extent in early 1930’s. It would take World War II to liberate housewives from the house, and in fact, as late as the sixties, many women never had a life outside the home and family. In addition, there was no welfare, food stamps, or public assistance. Many families could not survive the Depression. The images from Grapes of Wrath, and the dust bowl are etched on my brain, reinforced by stories of parents and grandparents who lived in those times. Our heroine, faced with losing everything, finds resources and learns to stand up for herself, and her family.

There is a particularly telling scene, in the early scenes. Where Edna Spalding goes to the bank because she hasn’t learned how to make out a check, the banker, played well by Lane Smith, tells her she is ignorant, stupid and careless, clearly underestimating her. At the time though, that is exactly what most people would have thought.

The third theme in this movie is pride in its true aspects as well as its excesses. It affects several characters in different ways. Edna’s sister is faced with a situation where pride would have cost her everything, and swallows some. Moze, the farmhand who teaches Ms. Spalding how to farm, gains a big measure of pride. Mr. Will, whose stubborn pride creates a barrier between him and the world, drops a little pride.

The set design and photography create a real world, with rich textures, sights and sounds. The costumes are spot on for the thirties, and the score is by Howard Shore. The best part of the music are some toe-tappin’ live performances ,'Cotton Eye Joe', for one.

The Plot

The story opens in Southern Texas, in the cotton belt. We get a brief glimpse of life in South, in Small town. People go to church. Wives cook and keep house. They raise families. Everyone kabobs everyone else.

At Sunday dinner, Mr. Royce Spalding, a local law officer, is called to help with a ‘ situation’. A young Negro man is “drunk and disorderly” and waving a gun around. He shoots at the air until the gun stops firing. laughing. When Frank (Sr.) walks toward him, Wylie laughs and waves the gun in Spalding’s direction, the gun goes off, and Royce Spalding is killed instantly. Pay attention to how “justice” is delivered to Wylie.

Not long after the funeral, a black man, Moze, comes by, passing through town, looking for work. Edna feeds him and sends him on his way, although Moze tells her she could raise cotton on her farm. Then, she is faced with her real situation. Her husband died, with his job as his only security on the land they owned. Selling the farm means she would be separated from her children and living on charity with her sister.

That night, a local cop brings Moze back to her door, with her stolen silver. She gives him a cover story, and she has hope that she can make the payments on the farm and keep her family together.

Edna's sister Margaret, running the local beauty shop, has trouble of her own. Her husband Wayne is having an affair with the married schoolteacher, the wife of his best friend.

To give you thje rest of the exposition, the banker brings a bitter war veteran to “rent” a room to help Edna out. So she has to deal with his surly behavior, her fatherless children, and the pressure of bringing in a crop to make a payment. The tension is never break neck, but add in a bunch of white sheets, a storm two and you get a clearer picture how life might have been. Every detail is done with care, and every character lives.

The final scene is a bit sentimental, and to me the only real flaw in this otherwise powerful movie. I understand the symbolism and the intent. I just didn’t think it was necessary or consistent. Although I appreciate the Chritian message, I find myself wondering how some of the parishioners would have looked in the bed linens.

CAST

Sally Field- as Edna Spalding. Sally Field is another one whose light went unnoticed for a lot of years. In her thirties in this movie, she is definitely her spunky self, with no sexual overtones. She earned her Academy Award, but could never have done it without Malkevich, Glover, Harris, Lindsey Crouse and the two kids who played her children.
Lindsey Crouse as Margaret Lomax. This is a complex character, who has a fierce pride in being able to make a living at her self-owned business. She is a strong character and played well. When faced with her husband’s infidelity, she finds her strength and it is an impressive pre-cursor of today’s “liberated” woman.
Ed Harris- as Wayne Lomax . This is an understated, role. Wayne is a man of considerable charm, but is not shown as a man with no character. He does have an affair with the schoolteacher, but also loves his wife. To his credit, he maintains his dignity. He doesn’t beg, and his face has to tell the entire story. It was a fine performance. He managed to create a fairly sympathetic character, whose actions would have made him a better villain. He did this by “loving” both women, showing tenderness and sympathy. He didn’t do this with malice, and clearly didn’t want to hurt anyone. He wasn’t admirable, but how could you hate him?
John Malkovich as Mr. Will, the blind boarder. His performance is also outstanding, and he moves and acts with total credibility as a blind man. The character is developed with depth. I personally like Malkovich as a villain, but I believe he could play any role with ease. My favorite scene involves walking into the kitchen where Edna Spalding is taking a bath, complaining about her children. In fact, that may be my favorite scene in the movie.
Amy Madigan- as Viola Kelsey, the school teacher. This character is interesting, and conflicted. She shows very little warmth, though. I have always liked this actress , and this performance is a little less typical of the feisty little red-head. My favorite performance so far was in Pollock as Peggy Guggenheim. In this film it wasn't clear to me whether she acted out of jealousy or integrity.
Danny Glover-as Moze. Glover is also an actor that has more ability than you usually deduce from the movies he is in. His character here is touching and wonderful. He is not made the sentimental “hero” but rather becomes a man of character. If you want to see him in a little different movie, see To Sleep With Anger (1990) .
Yankton Hatten-as Frank Spalding. This kid was pretty believable, and gets the politeness of children of the era down very well. He is able to take a licking with dignity. Outward emotion and open affection were not the common practice, and young Frank is the courteous respectful young man we would all like to claim as out=r own. He has a particularly touching and telling scene with Moze.
Gennie James as Possum Spalding, the younger sister of Young Frank. She is the one who blurts out the things that the others might occasionally want to say, and does a good job of creating the parenting need in the small Spalding family. She is also the key to Mr. Will’s wall of pride.
Lane Smith as the banker. Every movie has a villain. He is not all bad, and certainly would have been typical of the times.
Jay Patterson as WE Simmons, Owner Five Points Cotton Gin. Well here’s a guy you can feel free to dislike for all the right reasons.

Final Recommendation

There is nothing to keep you from seeing this movie, although it is not for action fans, or people who are looking for a mystery, or science fiction. It is a story about heart, in the end. You can find places in your own heart for the story told here.

Note: This is the SECOND posting for the write-off. The third will be posted December 15.

Other participants are:

Tigger500
Madtheory
Cletta1201
Brando814
Mike.Holmes
artbyjude

Take a look at their postings: You'll be glad you did!


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older