Tap Roots (1948)

Morna Dabney is engaged to soldier Clay MacIvor in the days before the War Between the States. Morna's grandfather Big Sam Dabney founded their Mississippi plantation near Levington, which ... See full summary »

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

James H. Street (novel), Alan Le May,

Stars:

Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Van Heflin	...	Keith Alexander
Susan Hayward	...	Morna Dabney
Boris Karloff	...	Tishomingo
Julie London	...	Aven Dabney
Whitfield Connor	...	Clay MacIvor
Ward Bond	...	Hoab Dabney
Richard Long	...	Bruce Dabney
Arthur Shields	...	Reverend Kirkland
Griff Barnett	...	Dr. MacIntosh
Sondra Rodgers	...	Shellie Dabney
Ruby Dandridge	...	Dabby
Russell Simpson	...	Big Sam Dabney

Storyline

Morna Dabney is engaged to soldier Clay MacIvor in the days before the War Between the States. Morna's grandfather Big Sam Dabney founded their Mississippi plantation near Levington, which thrives in the Deep South, but he remains loyal to the Union, as does his son Hoab, Morna's father. As Mississippi secedes, Hoab plans to withdraw the area around his plantation and remain neutral, and he gains support from local newspaperman Keith Alexander. Keith falls in love with Morna, whose fiancé Clay has joined the Confederate Army. Clay plans to punish the would-be neutral citizens of Levington by raiding the area, but Morna, with the help of her grandfather's Choctaw friend Tishomingo, attempts to thwart the attack. Morna sacrifices greatly to protect her home and the man she really loves.

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Plot Keywords:

civil war | confederacy | based on novel

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Taglines:

When she lost her lover...her sister gained one!

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Genres:

Drama | War | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Tal der Leidenschaften

Filming Locations:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions, Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lux Radio Theatre version aired 27 September 1948, starring Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, and Richard Long in their original roles.

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Goofs

Mountains shown in the background of a few scenes. There are no mountains of that size anywhere in Mississippi.

User Reviews

The poor man's GWTW...but Morna Dabney is no Scarlett O'Hara...

Nine years after losing the role of Scarlett in GWTW, Susan Hayward got her chance to play a Southern belle in 'Tap Roots'. While her emoting is more than sufficient, the weak script cannot live up to the expensive trappings and handsome production values of this minor technicolor epic from Universal.

Van Heflin, a fine actor, is a dashing newspaper publisher involved with the saucy heroine, as are her brother (Richard Long), an Indian who practices primitive cures (Boris Karloff), and her sister (Julie London). Against a Civil War background in Mississippi, the cliches are all there--and for good measure there's even a fire that destroys a plantation. If you're expecting another GWTW, forget it. It's simply an enjoyable Civil War romance photographed in lush technicolor and designed to showcase Susan Hayward's ability to play a vixenish Southern belle. For added interest, Ward Bond is featured in a strong supporting role--just as he was in GWTW.

Summing up: average entertainment but nothing spectacular.