Swanee River (1939)

More fictional than factual biography of Stephen Foster. Songwriter from Pittsburgh falls in love with the South, marries a Southern gal (Leeds), then is accused of sympathizing when the ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Writers:

John Taintor Foote (screenplay), Philip Dunne (screenplay)

Stars:

Don Ameche, Andrea Leeds, Al Jolson

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Ameche	...	Stephen Foster
Andrea Leeds	...	Jane McDowell Foster
Al Jolson	...	Edwin P. Christy
Felix Bressart	...	Henry Kleber
Chick Chandler	...	Bones
Russell Hicks	...	Andrew McDowell
George Reed	...	Old Joe, McDowell's Coachman
Richard Clarke	...	Tom Harper
Diane Fisher	...	Marion Foster
George P. Breakston	...	Ambrose
Al Herman	...	Tambo
Charles Trowbridge	...	Mr. Foster
George Meeker	...	Henry Foster
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Foster
Charles Tannen	...	Morrison Foster

Storyline

More fictional than factual biography of Stephen Foster. Songwriter from Pittsburgh falls in love with the South, marries a Southern gal (Leeds), then is accused of sympathizing when the Civil War breaks out.

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Taglines:

YOU"LL Thrill To the Songs...the Romances of STEPHEN FOSTER!!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Life of Stephen Foster

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 2, 1945 with Al Jolson reprising his film role.

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Goofs

In this movie, Stephen Foster marries a girl from the South, but in real life, his wife was from Pittsburgh.

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Connections

Version of Harmony Lane (1935)

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Soundtracks

"Gwine Down the River"
Written by William 'Wee Willie' Davis (uncredited)

User Reviews

No Way

Proof that not every 1939 release was part of the Golden Age. It's the life and not-so-hard times of Stephen Foster (Don Ameche), who despite a heart condition and a taste for the drink manages to crank out hit after hit. This is the cliched sort of composer bio in which every key event turns out to be instant inspiration for a new ditty, and the moment an on-screen audience hears a new song it can immediately join in for a reprise and know all the words. Still, Al Jolson is sturdy as E.P. Christy, the Technicolor is ravishing, and there are several convincing recreations of minstrel show numbers...and that last fact is why you won't see this film around, no way.

It's just not P.C. to show all that blackface any more, let alone the condescending approach to black people. (When Foster has ripped off "Oh Susannah" from a slave work song but is stuck on the last line, Jeannie--she of the light brown hair fame--comments that she's grown up among black music, their simple culture..."Hmmm...Here's how I think the Negroes would end it." Bingo, smash hit.) "Swanee River" is no great shakes as a movie, but it's a shame that people can't see it because of cowardice.