MovieChat Forums > The Well (1951) Discussion > Needs Restoration and belongs on the Nat...

Needs Restoration and belongs on the National Historic Register of films

posted 17 years ago by Gunn
6 replies | jump to latest

I remember seeing this film at our local theater in 1951 when it was released and I was 8 yrs. old. It was way before its time and carried a strong message about mob behavior, rumors, gossip and racial tension. It won Oscars for Best Screenplay and Best Editing. It made a distinct impression on me and I hadn't seen it since then. I just viewed it on a DVD I purchased and the film holds up quite well. The acting is it's weakest feature but you can see why it won its Oscars. I was extremely disappointed in the film quality. It had thick scratches through out 3/4 of the film. Can't we find a better print? Every year the Library of Congress picks 10 films to be restored and preserved and "The Well" surely qualifies. I just hope someone steps up and restores this film as it deserves to be saved.

[–] alicegriffin 17 years ago

I agree with you. Definitely belongs in NHR.

[–] gary_overman 16 years ago

I agree wholeheartedly and wish that they would add one more thing: closed captions. Some films I have a hard time with due to a serious hearing impairment. I had less of a problem with this film than I do a lot of them, however.

[–] that_ealing_feeling 13 years ago

The British terrestrial freeview channel Film4 is screening a spotless print as I write. With any luck it may soon be available to view again online, on the Film4 4oD (4 on Demand) service.

Although I'm quite a fan of forgotten American "problem pictures" and minor film-noirs, this TV showing is the first I ever heard of The Well. It looks a little home-made, but it's a decent little picture that indeed deserves to be better known. It's always nice to see Colonel Potter of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in action on the home front, too!

[–] jeffhead 13 years ago

watching this crap now as I write too, for the second time.
Crap acting, Music getting on my nerves. b movie rubbish

It is spotless in other ways
never-mind made in 1951
beautiful flick
It shows how mankind should be.

This is well ahead of 1951 . But true ,to its time; in reality

A REAL classic

[–] jeffhead 13 years ago

I know you posted this post 4 years ago, Gunn; But I'm watching this on tele now and looks crystal clear to me. "film 4". digital.
seen this on "channel 4" Analogue, a few years back, looked good then. I think

[–] gary_overman 12 years ago

<The acting is it's weakest feature but you can see why it won its Oscars.>

I really did not think the acting was all that bad, at least over-all. Thy had a few of them that sounded as though they were just reading their lines off of cue cards, but I thought that most of the acting was pretty good.