Wild River (1960) review

The Tennessee Valley Authority sends in Chuck Glover (Montgomery Clift) to try to persuade aging Ella (Jo Van Fleet) and her family to leave their home and land because the hydroelectric dam built nearby will soon flood the area, but she's defiant and won't budge; meanwhile Glover and Ella's granddaughter Carol (Lee Remick) start to become "close" (even though she's supposed to marry another man).  While I think it's an intriguing display of American Stubbornness and that firm stance of "Don't Tell Me What To Do" (unfortunately echoed during the COVID-19 pandemic with many refusing to get vaccinated or wear a mask), I'm not sure if all of its points - about not only eminent domain but also the treatment of African Americans (Ella runs what's essentially a plantation) - along with its "romantic angle" fully come together: it might not have helped the cause that it's based on two separate novels.  Individual moments are strong, however, and the performances are very good (Kazan wouldn't have had it any other way): Clift (who was allegedly sober the whole shoot) and Remick are both wounded birds trying to find a way to console each other.