.." New York""s Cardinal Spellman declared the film "evil in concept...certain to exert an immoral and corrupting influence on those who see it."The stark, controversial, black and white Southern drama was so viciously denounced by the Legion of Decency upon its release with a "C" (or condemned) rating that many theaters were forced to cancel heir showings, but it still did moderately well at the box office despite the uproar.Unfortunately, he happened to find a reel-to-reel tape-recording made by the cabin""s owner, archaeologist Prof.In the film""s poster advertisements, the gangster figure was tauted:The Power-Mad Monarch of the Murder Mobs!Before this film, Robinson had already starred inThe Widow From Chicago (1930)as a vice-lord racketeer.[Wynant""s alleged reappearance happened to coincide with he first of several murders of his close acquaintances.