 The regionalized title of "The Southerner" contributed to the film's controversy, a title that was being criticized by reviewers and influential movie promoters well before the film started to reach theaters in August 1945.The film-industry trade magazine "Boxoffice", in its issue of May 5, 1945, cautioned theater owners that although "The Southerner" was an "outstanding picture", it was hampered by "an inept title" and by "a cast of questionable drawing power.