Bright Leaf (1950)

In 1894, Brant Royle shocks the aristocratic tobacco growers of Kingsmont by planning to mass-produce cigarettes.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screenplay), Foster Fitzsimmons (novel)

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Lauren Bacall, Patricia Neal

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gary Cooper	...	Brant Royle
Lauren Bacall	...	Sonia Kovac
Patricia Neal	...	Margaret Jane Singleton
Jack Carson	...	Chris Malley (Dr. Monaco)
Donald Crisp	...	Major James Singleton
Gladys George	...	Rose
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Tabitha Singleton
Jeff Corey	...	John Barton
Taylor Holmes	...	Lawyer Calhoun
Thurston Hall	...	Phillips

Storyline

Once, magnate Major Singleton ran the Royles out of the Kingsmont tobacco country for daring to make lowly cigarettes. Now in 1894, Brant Royle, last of his name, is back. Forceful and macho, Brant intends to re-establish his family no matter what it takes. Two lovely women have waited for him: bordello keeper Sonia, with love; Singleton's daughter Margaret, with hatred and desire. As automation rears its head, the struggle attains an epic quality. Will Royle Cigarettes flood the market? Will Brant pick the wrong woman?

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Plot Keywords:

tobacco | bordello | suicide | rise and fall | hotel | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Semillas de venganza

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film in Lauren Bacall's seven year contract with Warner Brothers.

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Quotes

Major Singleton: I'm afraid I don't believe in cigarettes, much less a machine for makin' them. It turns my stomach, sir, every time I have occasion to witness someone pokin' one of those vile concoctions into their face. I deal in cigars, sir. Nothing less.

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Connections

Referenced in Cult of the Cobra (1955)

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Soundtracks

"Oh, Dem Golden Slippers"
(uncredited)
Written by James Allen Bland
Played during the Doctor Monaco's Remedy scenes

User Reviews

Two High Maintenance Southern Women

I think that Warner Brothers liked the performance that Gary Cooper gave in Edna Ferber's Saratoga Trunk which was released under their auspices a few years earlier. So when Cooper signs with Warner Brothers, Bright Leaf which is about the tobacco industry which has an Ferber like quality to it seemed perfect for him.

It didn't turn out that unfortunately. Brant Royle may be the most unsympathetic character Gary Cooper who was THE archetypal screen hero ever played. He's come back to his home which is in a valley in the tobacco growing country of North Carolina looking for vengeance on Donald Crisp the tobacco baron who ruined his father. All he has as the family heir is a closed factory. But when Crisp refuses to take an interest in Jeff Corey's new cigarette rolling machine, Cooper latches on to Corey and with medicine show doctor Jack Carson to sell the product, the three form a partnership.

Lauren Bacall who runs the town's house of joy with Gladys George helps kick start the firm with a financial investment. She likes Cooper well enough, but he's got eyes on Patricia Neal who is Crisp's daughter. Neal is a southern to the manor born heiress like Bette Davis in Jezebel and Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind. Those are high maintenance women and Cooper finds out just how high maintenance she is before the film concludes.

Though this is a Gary Cooper film, the female co-stars really steal this film from the men. Neal and Bacall are whom you watch and remember from Bright Leaf and of course Gladys George who is never bad in anything.

Though Bright Leaf is about a typical Edna Ferber empire builder the ending is anything like what you would find in a Ferber novel. Bright Leaf is a bit too melodramatic for my taste, but fans of the stars should find it good.