''Hearts in Dixie'' (1929) starring Stepin Fetchit was one of the first all- "talkie", big-studio productions to boast a predominantly African-American cast. A

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

, the film celebrates African-American music and dance. It was released by Fox Film Corporation just months before the release of '' Hallelujah!'', another all-black musical by competitor

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

. The director of ''Hearts in Dixie'' was Paul Sloane. Walter Weems wrote the screenplay, and William Fox was producer.

Synopsis

There is no overarching storyline. The film is a series of unconnected scenes celebrating the advent of sound technology in the context of "black music". ''Hearts in Dixie'' unfolds as a series of sketches of life among American blacks. Although the characters are not slaves they are nevertheless racial stereotypes in terms of the contemporary white images of the period. One plot focuses on Grandfather Nappus ( Clarence Muse), his daughter, Chloe (Bernice Pilot), her young son, Chinaquapin (

Eugene Jackson Eugene W. Jackson II (December 25, 1916 – October 26, 2001) was an American child actor who was a regular of the '' Our Gang'' short series during the silent Pathé era. Career When he joined the gang, Jackson replaced the series' firs ...

), and her husband, Gummy ( Stepin Fetchit). In order to make certain that his grandson Chinaquapin does not end up like his father or become tainted by the superstitions that dominate the community, the grandfather decides to send the boy away. One particularly tender scene shows Nappus's love for his grandson, whom he sends North for schooling. The film ends with the youngster's departure aboard a riverboat.Langman, Larry. ''Hollywood's Image of the South: A Century of Southern Films'', Greenwood Press, 2001 -

Cast

* Stepin Fetchit: Gummy * Clarence Muse: Nappus *

: Chinquapin *

Bernice Pilot Bernice Pilot was an American actress. She appeared in numerous films including as the female lead in the 1929 film ''Hearts in Dixie''. In most of Pilot's film roles, she portrayed maids. Pilot was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma in 1897. She died in Sa ...

: Chloe *Clifford Ingram: Rammey *

Mildred Washington Mildred Washington (1905–1933) was an American actress and dancer during the 1920s and 1930s. Washington was African American. Education and early life Mildred Washington was the youngest daughter of Lillie and Millard Washington, the third of ...

: Trallia * Zack Williams: Deacon *

Gertrude Howard Gertrude Howard (October 13, 1892 – September 30, 1934) was an American actress of the silent and early sound film eras. Biography Born in 1892, Howard performed in the chorus of ''The Wife Hunters'' (1911) on Broadway. She broke into films ...

: Emmy * Dorothy Morrison: Melia *Vivian Smith: Violet * A.C.H. Bilbrew: Voodoo Woman *

Richard Carlyle Richard Carlyle (March 20, 1914 – November 15, 2009) was a film, television and Broadway actor. Early years Carlyle was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. His education included attendance at Sherwood Dramatic Art School and the Art I ...

: White Doctor *The Billbrew Chorus

References

External links

* * * 1929 films 1920s musical drama films American musical drama films American black-and-white films Fox Film films 1929 drama films Films directed by Paul Sloane 1920s English-language films 1920s American films {{musical-drama-film-stub