In this moral tale, the disappearance of a little girl sparks a town-wide race war, and the discovery that she had fallen into a well brings it to an abrupt halt. It is about average in levels of silliness for Hollywood of that era. Underlying the hammy delivery is generally passable dialogue, but there are also such goofy moments as when a medical doctor sternly declares: "the fact that she is still alive indicates that she is able to breathe"

Compelling and provocative, with effective overacting and propagandist style camera angles. The situation cleverly leaves moral ambiguity and a false sense of security, highlighting the precariously thin-bound path of racial relations. The insidious advertising poster is all too telling...