The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)

Overview
"The Cabin in the Cotton" is a 1932 American pre-code drama movie directed by Michael Curtiz. It is based upon the novel of the very same name by Harry Harrison Kroll. This film stars Richard Barthelmess, Bette Davis, and Dorothy Jordan. The scripting was done by Paul Green, while the production was under Warner Bros. The story focuses on a Southern renter farmer who ends up being embroiled in a labor disagreement, assessing social and class conflicts of that period.

Main Plot
The main character, Marvin Blake (Richard Barthelmess), is a young, modest renter farmer living in the South who desires get an education and break free from the cotton fields. Marvin's dad, a sharecropper on a large cotton plantation, dies and Marvin promises to continue his father's battle against oppression and exploitation by unethical landowners.

Marvin gets a chance to work for a cotton plantation owner, Norwood, planning to assist him in his fight versus a local distribute intending to minimize cotton rates. Marvin finds himself swayed in between the temptations of two females: the sweet-natured and quite sharecropper's daughter, Betty Wright (Dorothy Jordan), and the flirtatious Madge Norwood (Bette Davis), who is the seductive and manipulative child of his manager.

Internal Conflict and Resolution
Marvin faces ethical and ethical problems when he finds that Norwood is not as innocent as he seems and is making use of the sharecroppers for his own monetary gain. Caught in between his loyalty to his employer and the oppressed sharecroppers who are like family, Marvin must navigate through the issues of a classic social problem.

Although Marvin at first dismisses the pleas of the sharecroppers to join their cause, the situation modifications when the sharecroppers' predicament becomes alarming. He is able to obtain files incriminating Norwood in dubious activities and chooses to share them with the regional syndicate, hence helping the sharecroppers and betraying his employer.

Performances
Richard Barthelmess delivers a good efficiency as the clashed Marvin, effectively portraying his character's development from an innocent farmer to a necessary rebel. Dorothy Jordan embodies the essence of the ignorant and love-struck Betty capturing the emotions and difficulties of the innocent lady in love.

However, it is Bette Davis who takes the show. In spite of playing a somewhat villainous character, Davis' representation of Madge has lots of charm and grace, making her a memorable character. Her efficiency has been widely recognized and consists of the now-iconic line, "I 'd like to kiss you, however I simply cleaned my hair".

Conclusion
"The Cabin in the Cotton" is a significant film that checks out social and labor issues still appropriate today. It successfully juxtaposes the contrasting lives of the elite plantation owners and the impoverished sharecroppers, using a thoughtful exploration of social departments, class struggle, and moral conflict. The efficiencies, particularly Davis', give the movie an additional edge, making it a classic representation of the pre-code Hollywood period.

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