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Bright Leaf is a 1950 American drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Gary Cooper, Lauren Bacall, and Patricia Neal. Set in the late 19th century, the movie tells the story of Brant Royle, played by Cooper, a successful tobacco auctioneer in Durham, North Carolina. As he climbs the social ladder and amasses a fortune, Royle's ambition is thwarted by a bitter old rival, played by Donald Crisp, who harbors a grudge against him and tries to ruin his business.

The film opens with Royle returning to his hometown after making a fortune in the tobacco industry. He is determined to make a name for himself and win the heart of his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Jane Singleton (Lauren Bacall). However, he soon discovers that his former employer and bitter rival, Major Singleton (Crisp), has other plans. The Major refuses to let Royle sell his tobacco at the auction, and instead forces him to unload it at a steep discount to a shady dealer, thereby ruining Royle financially.

Furious at the Major's sabotage, Royle sets out to build his own tobacco empire from scratch. With the help of his loyal friend and assistant, Sonia Kovac (Patricia Neal), he starts buying up cheap, low-quality tobacco and processing it into a high-quality product. As his business begins to flourish, he finds himself in direct competition with the Major, who is determined to crush his upstart rival.

The central conflict of the movie revolves around the rivalry between Royle and the Major, who represents the old guard of the tobacco industry. Refusing to embrace change, the Major clings to his traditional ways of doing business and resents Royle for trying to innovate and modernize the industry. Royle, meanwhile, is determined to succeed on his own terms, even if it means breaking with tradition and alienating those who once supported him.

The film is notable for its strong performances by its lead actors, particularly Cooper and Bacall, who deliver nuanced, multi-layered performances that capture the complexity of their characters' personalities and motivations. Cooper, in particular, brings a quiet intensity and gravitas to his role as Royle, a man driven by his relentless ambition and desire to prove himself to his detractors.

One of the film's other standout performances comes from Neal, who plays Royle's loyal assistant, Sonia Kovac. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Sonia faces her own set of challenges and prejudices, but she refuses to be underestimated or marginalized. Neal imbues the character with a quiet strength and intelligence that makes her a compelling foil to Royle's brashness and ego.

Overall, Bright Leaf is a powerful, character-driven drama that explores themes of ambition, rivalry, and change in a world that is resistant to it. With its strong performances, well-drawn characters, and cinematic scope, it remains a timeless classic of American cinema.

Bright Leaf is a 1950 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.