University of Virginia Library

Emotional Intensity

Primarily, though, the film's
success is due to the intensity with
which the characters' emotions and
attitudes are conveyed, and here
Mr. Anderson must share
recognition with his director,
Gilbert Cates, and his stars, Melvyn
Douglas and Gene Hackman.

Mr. Cates effectively employs
close-ups and quick cuts to help the
action reach its desired peaks.
There are several moving moments
in the film — the son's abrupt
announcement of his mother's
death, his confession to his sister
(whom his father banished for
marrying a Jew) that he has always
needed and wanted to love his "old
man," and, of course, the final
confrontation scene in which we
sadly realize that the gap between
father and son can never be
bridged.