In the film, most of the action was located in Wrightsville, somewhere representing Middle America.Because of the controversial nature of the film, public screenings were banned in England by the British Board of Film Censors for fourteen years (until 1968) after its release.An innocent, small-town college student (MacLachlan) in a sleepy town discovers a severed ear, and then finds himself embroiled on the dark side of town (beyond the white picket fence).The other three nominations were for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Sound.Plot SynopsisThe film opens with the credits next to a sepia-toned "film within a film" of "The Hole In The Wall Gang.This film, directed by Mark Sandrich (who directed five of the dance team""s films - see * below), was thefourthof nine films that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared in for RKO (between 1933 and 1939), although their first film pairing in 1933 was not top-billed and very minor.A closeup of crickets on the stalks.Italian is heard being spoken among the migrants.As the sun sets, Bill, Abby, and Linda engage in a playful game of tag.The sun rises at dawn - reddish-brown clouds provide a backdrop for a silhouetted scarecrow, whose right arm blows back and forth in the wind.