Orren

I feel I must speak about this film with more heart than I see in some comments. I do not believe the plot summary comment should be allowed to go unchallenged in its short vision.

This film is beautifully written, constructed, cast and acted. The pace, photography, color, soundtrack, costumes and sets all move with depth, nuance and a continuity remarkably faithful to the pace and way of idealized Amish country life. The film presents the Amish not as characters in a melodrama, but rather spreads out the entire Fulham County Community in the complexity of a spiritual, ethical parable — without preaching, or judging, or trivializing the deep human values at odds in an incident, which becomes a crime, which becomes a complex balance of "relative rights and wrongs," — which the film is scrupulously careful to articulate in terse dialog, exceptional acting, and sincere beauty.

This film has become a trivia footnote in Brad Pitt's filmography, since it is one of his earliest performances. It deserves to be elevated from footnote to Exceptional Acting by a Juvenile. His performance is brief, heart-breaking, and some of the best work he has ever done. Likewise those who know Ron Perlman only as a "heavy" character actor will marvel at the finely graduated and sincere beauty of his revelation of the heart of Job. By the time the film concludes, truth and amity prevail notwithstanding tragedy, there are no shallow winners or losers, and Life itself is the summary memory. Some film buffs may perhaps muse to themselves that they have been touched like this, with this power and restraint, in only one other film: "To Kill A Mockingbird."

With a murder mystery of this caliber, it is easy to spoil the suspense. I will just speak of the magnificent courtroom magic worthy of a combination of Poe and Earle Stanley Gardiner, with the elegance of Agatha Christie. Sir Michael Redgrave, Leo Genn, Ann Todd and Kieron Moore are spellbinding — in no way hammy or over the top as some self-important professional critics try to say today. In the 1950's and early 60's this film was CONTINUALLY SHOWN on New York's Million Dollar Movie, 4 times a day for a week at a time, every six months.

I do not know what to say or do to reach and convince the holder of copyright to release this great film on DVD. The time and mix of contemporary film elements are perfect for the restoration of this classic. If no one has copyright, but does have a broadcast copy, may I ask on behalf of a great many film enthusiasts that you make it available. I cannot help noticing that "The Paradine Case" is being heavily marketed even though Hitchcock himself panned it. "The Green Scarf" belongs on the same shelf with "Witness For The Prosecution," the Poirot and Marple series, the Rathbone "Sherlock Holmes" (all right, Jeremy Brett as well . . . but if so, "Without a Clue" with Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Michael Caine, "Perry Mason," and the wonderful modern "Sherlock" BBC series with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Surely someone who reads this knows how to get a film as widely shown as this, albeit 50 years ago. Please make an effort to help bring this film back before the public.