1957 | Raintree County

The film was the first ever shot using the MGM Camera 65 process (later renamed Ultra Panavision 70 ), which provided an extremely wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio. It was the same tech later used for the legendary Ben-Hur (1959).

When the Civil War erupts, John enlists in the Union Army, partially to search for Susanna after she flees South with their young son. The film concludes with a tragic search in the Indiana swamp, where the elusive raintree is finally glimpsed. Cast & Crew Raintree County 1957

With an estimated cost of $5 million , it was the most expensive film MGM had produced up to that point. Despite being a box office success, its massive costs meant it struggled to turn a profit. The film was the first ever shot using

Raintree County (1957) is a massive, three-hour Civil War epic that attempted to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of Gone with the Wind . While it is celebrated for its visual grandeur and the chemistry of its leads, it is perhaps most famous for the harrowing off-screen tragedy involving its star, Montgomery Clift. The film concludes with a tragic search in

John is torn between his childhood sweetheart, Nell Gaither (Eva Marie Saint), and Susanna Drake (Elizabeth Taylor), a wealthy, captivating Southern belle from New Orleans.