So Red the Rose

Like so many of the Hollywood films of the era, this film presents a ridiculous and offensive view of the old South. In pre-Civil War southern states, the slaves are all shown as being very happy, well taken care of and in love with their masters. Whippings, forced sales of which broke up families and dehumanization are no where in sight in these movies...and because of that the films, no matter how good they are otherwise, are basically dishonest.

In "So Red the Rose", the black slaves (especially the house slaves) are super-loyal and decent and it's only the wicked field hands that become 'uppity' towards the end of the Civil War. The message seems to be that without the war, everything would have just been fine!

As far as the story goes, it's all about a rich antebellum family, the Bedfords. While the womenfolk stay home, the men are out giving their all for the South. It's all told in a highly sympathetic and melodramatic fashion...with lots of sweet music, tenderness and style. And, when the war is over the blacks are no longer slaves and are rebellious and ungrateful for the wonderful treatment they'd received from their owners!!

The bottom line is that this film is very slickly made and well acted...and complete crap! I do not understand how so many reviewers loved the film and didn't seem to notice that it was also a complete lie. Strange.