favorite scene

First on my list is where Moses is brought to the Spalding house by the sherif's deputy for stealing silverware. After she covers for him and the deputy leaves, Mose tries to apologize. Field's character ends her little speech with something like, "and if you ever steal from me again, I'll shoot you myself." Great line.

Next would be when they're talking about the impossibility of bringing in the first bale. Field says, "I don't care if it kills me . . . I don't care if it kills you."

Another would be the scene of Frank rocking the empty rocking chair, and Mose stepping in with the superstitious cure for such a situation, ending with, "Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen!"

There are more great lines, most of them spoken by Field, who deservedly won the Academy Award.

That's a toughie. But.. I think I like best the scene where Frank was caught smoking and Edna asks him (again a kitchen scene!) if his father were there what would he do. You could see in Edna's face she didn't want to take on this role left empty by her husband's absence but she was confronting it anyway. And Frank's honesty (10 good licks...he could have said fewer!) was refreshing and commendable - he loved his mother enough to not compound problems with lying or skirting it and he respected his father's past discipline tho he was no longer around.

It's a hurdle they crossed together I think, an important one for both of them.

Edna says after the whipping that she'll never do that again. In my mind, as the story of their lives continue on, she never found herself in a position of thinking she had to! I'm pretty sure the look on Frank's face as he's leaving the kitchen and Possum is calling to him says he learned a far more valuable lesson than "don't smoke".

well it is so hard to choose..... but i suppose it is when she and Mose get the asking price for their cotton.

Everyone's mentioned most of my favorites, but I would have to add when Mr. Will comes into the kitchen to confront Edna about her children snooping in his room--and they both get a surprise!

I also like how the actors handled the scene where the banker "convinces" Edna to rent a room to his brother-in-law, Mr. Will. That scene--and how the actors played it--told you all you needed to know about their personalities and what it would be like to be "land rich and cash poor" during hard times and how those who control money--the bank--uses that power and influence like a club to get what they want. I also got a good sense how keenly Mr. Will felt the embarrassment of being dependent on the charity of someone like his brother-in-law, the banker.

Edited to add: Oh, and how could I forget the scene when Buddy (Terry O'Quinn) is racing to rescue his faithless wife? The concern and love he exhibited was made even more wrenching by the fact that by now the audience knows that both he and Margaret are being betrayed by spouses they obviously adore. Sometimes I wish the movie had spent more time on the characters' back stories.

it's been almost 4 years since i've seen this movie but, if i remember correctly, my favorite scene had to be the ending when all the characters are singing in church together despite if they've passed on or not. it was a very beautiful and moving scene that really summed up the feeling of unity throughout the movie.

Most of the ones everyone already mentioned, and I also love it when Mr. Will hears the storm coming and immediately starts trying to find Possum, even though he doesn't initially like Edna's kids.

Also, when he goes out with the gun when the KKK come to get Mose, and he recognizes all of their voices.

Clouds have silver linings, but every year, hundreds are struck by lightning searching.

I think when Mr. Will goes into the kitchen to have tea with Sally Field and asks her what she looks like is also very nice.

I love the scene when Mr. Will confronts Edna and not realizing she is in the bath.