Band of Angels (1957)

Mantha Starr grows up as a privileged southern Belle in the ante-bellum South but after her father dies broke, her world is destroyed when she discovers her mother was black.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Robert Penn Warren (novel), John Twist (screenplay),

Stars:

Clark Gable, Yvonne De Carlo, Sidney Poitier

Cast

Cast overview:
Clark Gable	...	Hamish Bond
Yvonne De Carlo	...	Amantha Starr
Sidney Poitier	...	Rau-Ru
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	...	Lt. Ethan Sears
Rex Reason	...	Capt. Seth Parton (Union officer)
Patric Knowles	...	Charles de Marigny
Torin Thatcher	...	Capt. Canavan
Andrea King	...	Miss Idell
Ray Teal	...	Mr. Calloway
Russell Evans	...	Jimmee (Bond's steward)
Carolle Drake	...	Michele (Bond's housekeeper)
Raymond Bailey	...	Mr. Stuart (plantation owner)
Tommie Moore	...	Dollie (Bond's house servant)

Storyline

Living in Kentucky prior to the Civil War, Amantha Starr is a privileged young woman. Her widower father, a wealthy plantation owner, dotes on her and he sends her to the best schools. When he dies suddenly however, Amantha's world is turned upside down. She learns that her father had been living on borrowed money and that her mother was actually a slave and her father's mistress. The plantation is to be sold to pay off her father's debts and as the daughter of slave, Amantha is also to be sold as property. She is bought by a Louisiana plantation owner, Hamish Bond and over time she grows to love him until she learns he was a slave-trader. She tries again to become part of white society but realizes that her future lies elsewhere.

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Plot Keywords:

plantation | plantation owner | slave | kentucky | louisiana | 

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Taglines:

You're no blue blood any more, honey. The master bought you...and now he's waitin'!

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Weint um die Verdammten

Filming Locations:

Ashland-Belle Helene Plantation - State Highway 75, Geismer, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film proved to be a complete failure on release, both critically and commercially. Clark Gable was annoyed by the comparisons with Gone with the Wind and instructed his agent, "If it doesn't suit an old geezer with false teeth, forget about it." He also decided to part company with Raoul Walsh, previously one of his favorite directors.

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Quotes

Amantha Starr: [Wakes up in bed, stretches] Mr. Hamish Bond can't keep me here! I'm leaving the moment his back is turned.
Michele: [Offers a tray of food] The Master said those low-down men didn't bother to feed you. You must be very hungry.
Amantha Starr: [Frowns] I'll leave... as soon as I've had the chance to rest and recover my strength.
[Picke up a knife and fork and begins to eat]

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Yvonne DeCarlo: Gilded Lily (2000)

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Soundtracks

"band of Angels"
(uncredited)
Music by Max Steiner
Lyrics by Carl Sigman
Sung by chorus over main titles

User Reviews

Great popcorn flick!

I don't know how many times I've seen this movie--I've lost count. It's not a classic like Gone with the Wind, but it's got that kind of "soapy" feel--like Imitation of Life, Madame Bovary, or Madame X. What is enjoyable about the film is the fact that it tries like hell to be politically correct in some areas (e.g. Sidney Poitier prancing about as if he were Hamish Bond's son, yet he has this love-hate relationship with him), but doesn't bother to be politically correct in others, with slaves singing happily (why do slaves always sing in these stupid movies?) & Dolly (like Prissy from GWTW). It's obvious that the beginnings of the Civil Rights movement impacted this film to a degree. Sydney's character has so much attitude that there's no way he would have really survived in those days, but who cares? He's definitely sexy in this movie.

Still, with all of its faults, it's an enjoyable movie--just don't take any of it too seriously or as a piece of history in any way. It's just great to see up & coming Sydney the actor with the Clark Gable the legend playing a character similar to Rhett Butler, and for the last time. Yvonne's great, too (who knew she would eventually become Lily Munster?) and the rest of the movie is well-cast. I like the scene when Hamish's old sea buddy comes by, gets drunk, and while the wind & rain is swirling about him he holds up his finger and says "I think there's a wee breeze..." or something to that effect. Clark is just looking at him, smiling, and I just crack up over that part.