"Dixie" is an early Paramount color musical biography and light comedy that stars Bing Crosby with a fine supporting cast. Crosby plays Daniel Decatur Emmett, an American composer, song-writer and musician of the 19th century. Emmett is most known for and credited with writing the song, "Dixie." He first sang it as a member of Bryant's Minstrels on April 4, 1859, in New York City.
Emmett was born in Ohio and taught himself to play fiddle. He joined the Army and became an expert fifer and drummer. With his natural talents he followed various jobs working as a singer and player. He traveled with a circus playing the banjo and singing in blackface. Along with a handful of other performers, he formed the Virginia Minstrels which became one of the first and the most prominent of the minstrel shows.
Emmett was reportedly upset that "Dixie" had become a rallying song for the South's secession from the Union. He then wrote the fife and drum manual for the Union Army in 1862. Emmett wrote more than 50 songs in his career. Among other popular tunes credited to him are "The Boatman's Dance, " and "Polly Wolly Doodle."
There's no known biography of Emmett, so the account of his life in "Dixie" is mostly fictional. The film is a rousing type of musical play. While musicals were still very popular at the time, it had only modest reception with the public. No doubt, the U.S. and world being smack dab in the middle of World War II had something to do with that.
Crosby sings half a dozen songs in the film. It has some historical value also for its staged presentations with blackface. Among the best of the rest of the cast are Dorothy Lamour as Millie Cook, Marjorie Reynolds as Jean Mason, Billy De Wolfe as Mr. Bones and several other prominent supporting actors of the day. They include long-time vaudevillian Eddie Foy Jr. as Mr. Felham, Lynne Overman as Mr. Whitlock, Raymond Walburn as Mr. Cook, and Grant Mitchell as Mr. Mason.
Anyone who likes musicals should enjoy this film. The costumes and sets are very well done and also interesting for the period of the story.
Here are some favorite lines form the film.
Daniel, "How do you know I'm a deadbeat. I haven't been here long enough."
Millie, "I just couldn't cope with Mr. Bones tonight. He has the instincts of a boa constrictor." Daniel, "I knew he was a snake, but I didn't know what kind."
Mr. Bones, "Why do you let a stranger take your daughter home?" Mr. Cook, "Oh, I think he'll be safe. Come on, let's get that drink."
Mr. Bones, "While you've dilly-dallied with this boarding house Cleopatra, I've been out selling the manager of the Maxwell a new act."
Daniel, "He's quite a cuss all right. He's a fake, he's got no morals, no integrity, no loyalty, but he's very colorful." Millie, "I once heard a doctor say the same thing about scarlet fever."
Mr. Bones, "Get your elbow out of my stomach and quit proposing to my fiancé."
Millie, "What an eventful evening. The show was a triumph, I've been engaged to two men, and the theater burns down. I wonder what'll happen next."
Daniel, "You're the bravest little wife a fellow ever starved with."
Mr. Cook, "Death is infinitely preferable to bunions."
Mr. Cook, "But I've always felt you had character. And I'd hate to find out that you didn't have." Millie, "Why?" Mr. Cook, " Oh, I don't know. Character's supposed to be a good thing."
Emmett was born in Ohio and taught himself to play fiddle. He joined the Army and became an expert fifer and drummer. With his natural talents he followed various jobs working as a singer and player. He traveled with a circus playing the banjo and singing in blackface. Along with a handful of other performers, he formed the Virginia Minstrels which became one of the first and the most prominent of the minstrel shows.
Emmett was reportedly upset that "Dixie" had become a rallying song for the South's secession from the Union. He then wrote the fife and drum manual for the Union Army in 1862. Emmett wrote more than 50 songs in his career. Among other popular tunes credited to him are "The Boatman's Dance, " and "Polly Wolly Doodle."
There's no known biography of Emmett, so the account of his life in "Dixie" is mostly fictional. The film is a rousing type of musical play. While musicals were still very popular at the time, it had only modest reception with the public. No doubt, the U.S. and world being smack dab in the middle of World War II had something to do with that.
Crosby sings half a dozen songs in the film. It has some historical value also for its staged presentations with blackface. Among the best of the rest of the cast are Dorothy Lamour as Millie Cook, Marjorie Reynolds as Jean Mason, Billy De Wolfe as Mr. Bones and several other prominent supporting actors of the day. They include long-time vaudevillian Eddie Foy Jr. as Mr. Felham, Lynne Overman as Mr. Whitlock, Raymond Walburn as Mr. Cook, and Grant Mitchell as Mr. Mason.
Anyone who likes musicals should enjoy this film. The costumes and sets are very well done and also interesting for the period of the story.
Here are some favorite lines form the film.
Daniel, "How do you know I'm a deadbeat. I haven't been here long enough."
Millie, "I just couldn't cope with Mr. Bones tonight. He has the instincts of a boa constrictor." Daniel, "I knew he was a snake, but I didn't know what kind."
Mr. Bones, "Why do you let a stranger take your daughter home?" Mr. Cook, "Oh, I think he'll be safe. Come on, let's get that drink."
Mr. Bones, "While you've dilly-dallied with this boarding house Cleopatra, I've been out selling the manager of the Maxwell a new act."
Daniel, "He's quite a cuss all right. He's a fake, he's got no morals, no integrity, no loyalty, but he's very colorful." Millie, "I once heard a doctor say the same thing about scarlet fever."
Mr. Bones, "Get your elbow out of my stomach and quit proposing to my fiancé."
Millie, "What an eventful evening. The show was a triumph, I've been engaged to two men, and the theater burns down. I wonder what'll happen next."
Daniel, "You're the bravest little wife a fellow ever starved with."
Mr. Cook, "Death is infinitely preferable to bunions."
Mr. Cook, "But I've always felt you had character. And I'd hate to find out that you didn't have." Millie, "Why?" Mr. Cook, " Oh, I don't know. Character's supposed to be a good thing."