This week’s mystery movie has been the 1958 Anthony Mann film “God’s Little Acre,” starring Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, Buddy Hackett, Jack Lord, Fay Spain, Vic Morrow, Helen Westcott, Lance Fuller, Rex Ingram, Michael Landon, Russell Collins, Davis Roberts, Janet Brandt and introducing Tina Louise. Music by Elmer Bernstein, photography by Ernest Haller, production design by John S. Poplin Jr. set dressing by Lyle B. Reifsnider. The prop master was Max Miller, and the dialogue coach was Janet Brandt. Costumes by Sophia Stutz, makeup by Maurice Seiderman, hairstyles by Helene Parrish, lighting by Lloyd Garnell (don’t usually see a credit for lighting technician). The film was directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Sidney Harmon. The screenplay was by Philip Yordan “based on the world’s best selling novel by Erskine Caldwell.” The film was preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
You might think I’m on a kick of doing 1950s films with schlocky theme songs. This one is even worse than “Until They Sail.” It may even be worse than the title song for “Home Before Dark,” which is saying something.
The film is available on DVD from TCM for $11.55.
“God’s Little Acre” introduced Tina Louise, who had starred as Appassionata Von Climax in the Broadway show “Li’l Abner.”
It’s hard to imagine the controversy surrounding this film, which received a “B” from the Legion of Decency. On April 28, 1958, the Los Angeles Times’ Philip K. Scheuer called it “the bawdiest bash ever to emanate from Hollywood.”
A.H. Weiler of the New York Times (Aug. 14, 1958) said:
THE primitive, ribald Georgia rustics of Erskine Caldwell’s “God’s Little Acre” have been a long time emerging from the pages of his twenty-five-year-old super-best-seller, but they arrived yesterday on the screen of more than 100 local theatres impressively alive and full of sex, vitality and bucolic humor. Although they still are as far from the country-club set as possible, the denizens of “God’s Little Acre” have been treated with dignity and intelligence in a folk comedy that is actually funny, realistic and rarely a lampoon.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Fay Spain.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Rex Ingram.
Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Suzanne Annette Stone (Monday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Benito (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest) and Don Danard (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest).
For Wednesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Helen Westcott.
Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Don Danard (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For Thursday, we have this astonished mystery guest.
Update: This is Michael Landon.
Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Sue Slutzky (Wednesday’s mystery guest).
For Friday, we have some mystery menfolk….
Update: Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan and Jack Lord.
…. and another mystery fellow …
Update: Robert Ryan and Buddy Hackett.
…. and …
Update: Aldo Ray and Tina Louise.
Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Thursday’s mystery albino), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery albino), Benito (Thursday’s mystery albino and mystery albino’s night job), David Inman (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery albino), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery albino), Jenny M (Thursday’s mystery alibno), Lorenzo (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery albino), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery albino), Pat in Michigan (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery albino), Roget-L.A. (Thursday’s mystery albino) and Beachgal (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
This is Fay Spain.
LikeLike
With outdoor tub gotta think Darli’ Jill, God’s Little Acre (1958).
LikeLike
Fay Spain as Darlin’ Jill in GOD’S LITTLE ACRE.
LikeLike
Fay Spain.
LikeLike
Fay Spain in GOD’S LITTLE ACRE.
LikeLike
Fay Spain flirts with her unlikely swain Buddy Hackett in GOD’S LITTLE ACRE 1958
LikeLike
Whoever she is, she’s in Lily St. Cyr’s bathtub.
LikeLike
Faye Spain in God’s Little Acre.
LikeLike
Could be Tuesday in a hot, hot tub in ‘The Serial’.
LikeLike
A guess. Is it Fay Spain in “God’s Little Acre”?
LikeLike
Tuesday, Rex Ingram adds a little class to the proceedings.
LikeLike
Rex Ingram.
LikeLike
Rex Ingram today and Fay spain yesterday in GOD’S LITTLE ACRE.
LikeLike
That’s Fay Spain in Lily’s bathtub. And Rex Ingraham in God’s Little Acre.
LikeLike
Today’s Guest is Rex Ingram.
LikeLike
Rex Ingram.
LikeLike
Rex Ingram
LikeLike
It’s James Baskett today.
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Could Tuesday’s guest be James Baskett.
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Monday’s bather is Fay Spain. Tuesday’s guest is Rex Ingram. The movie is God’s Little Acre, 1958.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott for Wednesday.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott
LikeLike
Fay Spain for Monday, Rex Ingram for Tuesday, and Helen Westcott for today in God’s Little Acre.
LikeLike
Helen Westcott is Wednesday’s guest.
LikeLike
And Thursday is Michael Landon apparently squeezing a little more mileage out of Barbara Stanwick’s wig from Double Indemnity.
LikeLike
Michael Landon.
LikeLike
Michael Landon, boy albino. Night job: Teen werewolf.
LikeLike
“God’s Little Acre”? Fay Spain on Monday, Rex Ingram on Tuesday, Helen Westcott on Wednesday and Michael Landon today.
LikeLike
Michael Landon.
LikeLike
Michael Landon.
LikeLike
Michael Landon
LikeLike
Thursday’s guest Michael Landon in God’s Little Acre.
LikeLike
Thursday’s guest… Michael Landon.
LikeLike
Thursday’s guest is a jarringly blonde Michael Landon, making this film “God’s Little Acre”.
LikeLike
Thursday: a young, blonde Michael Landon?
LikeLike
Thurs is Michael Landon and the movie this week is God’s Little Acre.
LikeLike
Monday is Faye Spain. Tues is Rex Ingram. Wed is Helen Westcott.
LikeLike
1) Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan, Jack Lord
2) Ryan, Buddy Hackett
3) Aldo Ray, Tina Louise
LikeLike
Well, for Friday first we have Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan and Jack Lord, then we have Robert Ryan and Buddy Hackett and then finally we come to Aldo Ray extra-martially schmoozing with Tina Louise. Whew, it’s hot in here.
LikeLike
That would be ‘extra-maritally’ if that’s a word.
LikeLike
God’s Little Acre (1958) with Robert Ryan, Buddy Hackett, and Tina Louise
LikeLike
Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan, Jack Lord, Buddy Hackett, Aldo Ray and Tina Louise.
LikeLike
Fri – photo #1, Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan and Jack Lord. Photo #2 Robert Ryan and Buddy Hackett. Photo #3, Tina Louise and Aldo Ray.
LikeLike
Vic Morrow, Robert Ryan, Jack Lord; Ryan and Buddy Hackett; Aldo Ray and Tina Louise.
LikeLike
Friday’s guests: Threesome – 1: Vic Morrow, 2: Robert Ryan, 3: Lance Fuller… then Robert Ryan and Buddy Hackett, then Aldo Ray and Tina Louise
LikeLike
Well, it’s sort of a Gilligan’s Island castaways go searching for gold on a Georgia cotton farm, AKA God’s Little Acre. Fay Spain and Robert Ryan are in the mix and of course Tina Louise. You should not be watching this tr*sh. What would your grandmother think? Heavens to Betsy.
LikeLike