TODAY'S NUGGET: The Southerner (1945) - How Important is Being Important to a Character?

[Quick Summary: The kind, hard-working Tucker family arrives on rented farmland to grow cotton for the first time on their own.]

I was not keen on the only other Renoir script I've read,* but this one was heart warming in the best way. I knew why the characters felt/did not feel important.

The man who is robbed of the privilege of becoming important in his own esteem or in the society in which he lives, is a dangerous man. The importance of being important is second only to self-preservation. -Egri 

The best example of this "robbed man" is the scene below.  Note:
- Unwelcoming Mr. Devers has had an eye on the property Sam Tucker just rented.
- Devers has been trying to discourage Sam from staying.
- Devers cut the bucket rope from the common well, then allowed his animals to eat Sam's vegetable garden. Devers and Sam have just had a fist fight.
- Walking home, Sam saw the elusive catfish legend twitching on his line.
- Notice WHY Devers wants the fish. It's not to eat.

The scene dissolves to a close view of Lead Pencil, who is lying on the river bank, and then we see the three men squatting around the fish. Sam is winding up the cable which has served as a line to catch Lead Pencil. Devers is looking at the fish in almost insane admiration. Finally, unable to control himself any longer, he speaks.

DEVERS: Tucker. (As Sam doesn't answer) That's my fish.

SAM: So ya own the river too, huh/ But maybe the Law will call my hook 'n line an Act o' God.

DEVERS: Ya gimme that fish, 'n swear never t'tell ya caught it, 'n I'll give ya (hesitating) a dollar.

SAM (busy with the fish-line): I don' need no dollar. My folks likes fish.

DEVERS: All right. I'll keep the fish long 'nuf to take it to the store 'n shoe it fer a day or two, and you kin have it back.

SAM (still busy with the fish-line): It ain' likely to be very good eatin' after that.

DEVERS: All right. Lemme have the fish 'n ya keep yer mouth shut, 'n ya kind use outta my whole garden. 

Sam is seen close, working the hook out as delicately as if the fish were the frailest gossamer.

SAM (pleasantly): He sure taken a holt of it, didn't he?

DEVERS (frantic): All right, then. You kin have the whole durn garden.

SAM (looking up): 'N the well rope? How we gonna draw water?

DEVERS: All right, durn it. I gotta another rope in the barn.

Sam rises. Devers and Finley are looking at him anxiously. In the background, Nona and Becky come running. We understand that Becky has gone to get Nona. Sam looks at them. The two women stop short, amazed at the friendly attitude of the men.

NONA: Sam! What's happened? Becky tole me....

SAM (nonchalantly): Oh, it ain't nothin! I wuz jes' helpin' Devers here pull this big catfish outten the river! He done caught Lead Pencil!

DEVERS (after a pause): Yeah.

Devers looks closely at Sam, gratitude and friendliness in his eyes, as the scene fades out.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I like how the audience can see that Devers wants to feel important, but I don't think Devers really realizes how much he does.

The Southerner (1945)
Written and directed by Jean Renoir
Adapted from the novel, "Hold Autumn in Your Hand," by George Sessions Perry

*La Grande Illusion (1937) is #85 on WGA's list of best scripts.  My blog post on it is here.