Robert Duvall gives a subtle and sentimental performance as Mr. Cox,
an aging wildcatter in Depression-era Texas. With nothing but a a
tattered old suitcase and a pet cat to his name, Mr. Cox arrives at
a crossroads just outside the small town of Henrietta. He's rescued
from a blinding storm by down-and-out farmer Don Day, who gives the
old man refuge on his small farm. But Mr. Cox quickly takes the lay
of the land, and his professional intuition tells him that the Day
property is sitting on top of oil. Having made other men wealthy,
Cox now determines to make a fortune for himself. The struggling Days,
however, are worried about being evicted by the bank, and don't care
to risk their meager earnings on Cox's hunch. Now Mr. Cox has to figure
out a way to erect a drilling rig on the property and make everyone
rich. (Sypnosis from rottentomatoes.com) |