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Way Down South (1939)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
21 July 1939 (USA)
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Tagline:
HELP YOURSELF TO HAPPINESS! HERE'S A WHILE SHOW-FULL! (original poster - all caps)
Plot:
In the pre-Civil War South, a plantation owner dies and leaves all his possessions, including his slaves...
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Plot Keywords:
Executor
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Plantation
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Mistress
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Inheritance
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Louisiana
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
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User Comments:
Decent Race Film
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Bobby Breen | ... | Timothy Reid Jr. | |
| Alan Mowbray | ... | Jacques Bouton | |
| Ralph Morgan | ... | Timothy Reid Sr. | |
| Steffi Duna | ... | Pauline Dubini | |
| Clarence Muse | ... | Uncle Caton | |
| Sally Blane | ... | Claire Bouton | |
| Edwin Maxwell | ... | Martin Dill | |
| Charles Middleton | ... | Cass - Plantation Foreman | |
| Robert Greig | ... | Judge Louis Ravenal | |
| Lillian Yarbo | ... | Janie | |
| Matthew 'Stymie' Beard | ... | Gumbo (as Stymie Beard) | |
| Hall Johnson Choir | ... | Musical Ensemble |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
61 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Certification:
USA:Approved |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Soundtrack:
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
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Way Down South (1939)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Interesting race picture from RKO features two black writers (Clarence Muse, Langston Hughes) doing the screenplay. Set before the Civil War, a plantation owner dies leaving his farm and slaves to his young son (Bobby Breen). Soon an executive comes into play and tries to sell the slaves but the young kid won't stand for this as the slaves are his only friends. It's interesting to see a Hollywood picture from this era treating blacks with any sort of respect and in many ways it's more respectful than many of the other race pictures that I've seen, which were made by black directors. The film only runs 61-minutes so the drama of slavery isn't ever really looked at and the film would later be criticized by the NAACP for showing "happy slaves". The films main goal is to have a spotlight for the young Breen and he's pretty good here, although his musical numbers aren't anything special.