Tobacco Road
Shiftless Jeeter Lester and his family of sharecroppers live in rural Georgia where their ancestors were once wealthy planters. Their slapstick existence is threatened by a bank's plans to take over the land for more profitable farming.
Critics Sentiment
Jeeter and Ada discuss their departed children in touching scene
Bank manager Payne delivers eviction notice to Jeeter
The film dramatically improves from Jeeter's failed car scheme to the touching family conversation between him and Ada, jumping from 5.0 to 8.2 as Ford briefly achieves the poignant tone critics felt was missing elsewhere.
Critics found Tobacco Road an uneven adaptation that struggled between broad hillbilly comedy and genuine social drama. While Grapewin's central performance was widely praised and moments of real pathos emerged, most reviewers felt the film's tone was too inconsistent and its stereotypes too broad. The film worked best in quieter character moments but faltered when pushing for easy laughs at the expense of its impoverished subjects.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 25
Charley Grapewin
Jeeter Lester
Marjorie Rambeau
Sister Bessie Rice
Gene Tierney
Ellie May Lester
William Tracy
Dude Lester
Elizabeth Patterson
Ada Lester
Dana Andrews
Capt. Tim Harmon
Slim Summerville
Henry Peabody
Ward Bond
Lov Bensey
Grant Mitchell
George Payne
Zeffie Tilbury
Grandma Lester
Russell Simpson
Chief of Police
Spencer Charters
County Clerk
Irving Bacon
Bank Teller
Harry Tyler
Car Salesman
Charles Halton
Mayor
George Chandler
Hotel Desk Clark
Dorothy Adams
Susie Mae (uncredited)
Mae Marsh
County Clerk's Assistant (uncredited)
Jack Pennick
Policeman
Erville Alderson
Crew
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