The Well

Opening scene of the 1951 movie The Well. This was considered a film noir that tackled race issues and collective behavior.

Synopsis: An black little girl headed for school goes skipping through a meadow and falls into a well whose opening was hidden by some high weeds growing around it. Her distraught parents report her absence to a genuinely-concerned Sheriff, who in turn begins a routine search. When it's reported that an adult white male had bought the little girl some flowers that morning, things begin to unravel, and the routine search turns into a major operation!

Synopsis by 'Film Noir of the Week' by HJ: On the surface, the town (probably Midwestern) appears to have no racial problems of significant proportions, but when the Black population hears that a white man was last seen with little Carolyn, racial tensions surface. And when the white man is discovered and subjected to a vigorous and accusatory interrogation by the Sheriff and his deputies, the reactionaries among the white populace begin fomenting violence against the African-American citizens. The African-American community is incensed that a white man may be responsible for the disappearance of little Carolyn and begins to confront the white racists.

The Sheriff sees the very real threat of a full-blown race riot and asks the Mayor to request State Militia assistance, while beginning to arm both black and white Civil Defense volunteers with riot guns. This missing little girl has become less of an immediate issue than the mounting racial tensions.

Fortunately a little boy and his dog happen to be going through the meadow in which the well is located and find evidence that little Carolyn may be in the well. The child gets the word to the adults, and a rescue effort is mounted.

The racist owner of Packard's Construction Company, Sam Packard, makes all his equipment and laborers available for the exploration and rescue effort. And Sam Packard's nephew Claude Packard (played by Harry Morgan who later portrayed Colonel Potter in MASH), thought to be involved in Carolyn's disappearance, swallows the anger he feels at his treatment to become very personally involved in the effort to rescue the little girl.

Award Nominations:
1951: 2 Nominations for Oscar: Best Editing, Story and Screenplay
1951: Golden Globes: Nominated for Best Motion Picture Score

The Well (1951) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gtpG5Bu8-M