The same year as Gone With the Wind, audiences had the chance to see another movie during the same time period, Swanee River. However, since it was an inferior movie, not many people probably did. If you want to rent it now, you'll see Don Ameche playing the famed composer Stephen Foster. He certainly personifies the stereotypical musician: losing track of time because he's lost in thought, putting the phrase of a tune he's working on above importance of all else, and getting in large bouts of depression whenever he feels like a failure. Still, a nice, normal Southern girl wants to marry him. Against her father's better judgment, Andrea Leeds does marry him. And boy, does she suffer for it! On their wedding night, he abandons her to tinker around on a saloon piano.
A large portion of this movie features Al Jolson and his backup singers in blackface. It's a touchy subject for lots of people, but if you're able to understand its historical context, you might get through the movie. I've seen quite a few movies depicting this time period that feature blackface performances, and when they are used for historical purposes rather than just gratuitous song and dance numbers, I don't mind them. However, this one goes on and on and on. Al Jolson's ego nearly escapes from the screen, and you can imagine him insisting on singing each song in its entirety. It does feel gratuitous, especially because Stephen Foster himself never performed in blackface.
If you know anything about Stephen Foster, you know that he had a sad life. This is not an uplifting story, which is probably why they shove so many toe-tapping songs down the audience's throat. So, if you just want something patriotic and upbeat, rent Yankee Doodle Dandy instead. If you are in the mood for this one, you'll see Felix Bressart in the supporting cast - and that's always a treat! And of course, you'll hear lots of pretty music.
A large portion of this movie features Al Jolson and his backup singers in blackface. It's a touchy subject for lots of people, but if you're able to understand its historical context, you might get through the movie. I've seen quite a few movies depicting this time period that feature blackface performances, and when they are used for historical purposes rather than just gratuitous song and dance numbers, I don't mind them. However, this one goes on and on and on. Al Jolson's ego nearly escapes from the screen, and you can imagine him insisting on singing each song in its entirety. It does feel gratuitous, especially because Stephen Foster himself never performed in blackface.
If you know anything about Stephen Foster, you know that he had a sad life. This is not an uplifting story, which is probably why they shove so many toe-tapping songs down the audience's throat. So, if you just want something patriotic and upbeat, rent Yankee Doodle Dandy instead. If you are in the mood for this one, you'll see Felix Bressart in the supporting cast - and that's always a treat! And of course, you'll hear lots of pretty music.