Dark Before Dawn

"Harvest of Tears" is the exceptional C&W ballad that concludes this entertaining and unique movie. Starting with the Kansas and Oaklahoma filming locations, the atmosphere of a struggling farm community is perfectly set. The story of a big corporation manipulating grain prices to drive local farmers into bankruptcy is compelling. The cast includes some wonderful character actors. A group of renegade farmers, the Cabillistas, is lead by Billy Drago. Rance Howard runs the local "Farmco" grain mill for the truly evil corporate boss, played by Morgan Woodward. Ben Johnson is the town sheriff, and Doug McClure is another on the corporate payroll. The film is not perfect, with off screen kills, and choppy editing, but the terrific cast and intriguing story more than overcome these shortcomings. - MERK