Understanding that he didn't have long to live, widowed North Carolina sharecropper Roy Luther (Rance Howard) asked his second-eldest, 14-year-old Mary Call (Julie Gholson), to take over the household-and to keep his passing secret from the distrusted, landlord Kiser Pease (Harry Dean Stanton) most of all. Her efforts to do so fuel this long-demanded family drama co-starring Jan Smithers, Sudie Bond. Earl Hamner, Jr. Adapted the Vera and Bill Cleaver novel for the screen. 97 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English: Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.