''Let Freedom Ring'' is a 1939 in Sepiatone

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

directed by Jack Conway, starring

Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclub ...

and

Virginia Bruce Virginia Bruce (born Helen Virginia Briggs; September 29, 1910 – February 24, 1982) was an American actress and singer. Early life Bruce was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As an infant she moved with her parents, Earil and Margaret Briggs, ...

Plot

The railroad is coming to Clover City. Railway owner Jim Knox ( Edward Arnold) wants to increase his profit by purchasing more than just the right of way for his railroad. He wants the surrounding land and he is willing to use illegal methods to get what he wants. When Pop Wilkie (

George 'Gabby' Hayes George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

) refuses to sell, his home is burned to the ground. Witnesses are willing to testify that Knox's employee, Gagan (

Trevor Bardette Trevor Bardette (born Terva Gaston Hubbard; November 19, 1902 – November 28, 1977) was an American film and television actor. Among many other roles in his long and prolific career, Bardette appeared in several episodes of '' Adventures of S ...

), started the fire but when the case is taken to the local court, Judge Bronson (

Guy Kibbee Guy Bridges Kibbee (March 6, 1882 – May 24, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Kibbee was born in El Paso, Texas. His father was editor of the '' El Paso Herald-Post'' newspaper, and Kibbee learned how to set type at age ...

), loyal to Knox, dismisses the charges. Farmer Thomas Logan (

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

) also refuses to sell. Logan is expecting his son Steve (

), a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, to fight for the rights of the farmers of Clover City. Knox visits Logan at his farm and while everyone is busy in the house, Gagan goes to the barn to start a fire. Steve Logan arrives. Assessing the hopelessness of fighting Knox in court, Steve pretends to side with Knox. Knox is puzzled as to why the fire wasn't set until Gagan is found unconscious thrown across the back of a horse with a note stating that he "forgot the matches." The people of the town, who had been hoping for Steve to handle Knox, consider Steve a coward. Maggie Adams (

), who runs the local restaurant, loves Steve but she can't forgive him for siding with Knox. The only person in town who knows the Steve is not a coward is "the Mackerel" ( Charles Butterworth) who sees that Steve was wounded the night that Gagan was found unconscious. He realizes it was Steve who fought with Gagan and prevented the farm from being burned down. Knox has been paying the editor of the local paper, Underwood (

Raymond Walburn Raymond Walburn (September 9, 1887 – July 26, 1969) was an American character actor of stage and screen who appeared in dozens of Hollywood movie comedies and an occasional dramatic role during the 1930s and 1940s. Life and career Born i ...

), to make certain the newspaper is supportive of the railroad and supportive of Judge Bronson, who is up for re-election. Then, the railroad arrives in Clover City along with 250 railroad workers. Knox tells his men to make certain the workers are all registered to vote in the upcoming election. Steve, with the help of the Mackerel, abducts Underwood, and steals the printing press and printing supplies. Keeping Underwood prisoner in a cave in the nearby mountains, they print newspapers exposing the corruption of Jim Knox and supporting the election of Thomas Logan as Judge. The newspapers are written under the pseudonym, "the Wasp." Steve and the Mackarel make certain the newspapers show up all over town. Knox, concerned, about the influence of the newspapers, offers a large reward for the capture of the Wasp. Chris Mulligan (

Victor McLaglen Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen (10 December 1886 – 7 November 1959) was a British boxer-turned-Hollywood actor.Obituary ''Variety'', 11 November 1959, page 79. He was known as a character actor, particularly in Westerns, and made se ...

) searches the mountains for the Wasp and is almost successful but he is headed off by the Mackarel who offers to search the immediate area and send Mulligan to the next mountain over. Maggie heads into the mountains to find the Wasp and warn him of that Mulligan is searching for him but she finds Steve. She assumes Steve is searching for the Wasp. She leaves, expressing her disgust for him. On the eve of the election, the Wasp is expected to pick up the latest edition of the paper which is being stored at the Logan Farm. Tom Logan and his friends are expecting the Wasp and they are surprised when Steve shows up to pick up the papers. Steve apologizes for deceiving his father but must leave quickly as Knox and his men have heard where the papers are stored and arrive looking for the Wasp. Steve gets away with the papers but Mulligan finds him. After a good fistfight, Steve is victorious over Mulligan, and he has won him over to his side. Steve distributes the papers and gives a stirring speech to the railway workers about freedom and liberty. Knox counters by telling the workers they will lose their jobs if they don't vote for Bronson. When all seems lost, Maggie begins singing "

My Country, 'Tis of Thee "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)" is an American patriotic song, the lyrics of which were written by Samuel Francis Smith. The song served as one of the ''de facto'' national anthems of the United States (along with songs like "Hail, Columb ...

." Steve joins in and soon almost everyone is singing. The workers are convinced. They will vote for Logan. Mulligan suggests to Knox that it would be best if he and his men left town.

Cast

Soundtrack

* "Dusty Road" * "Love Serenade" * "

Yankee Doodle "Yankee Doodle" is a traditional song and nursery rhyme, the early versions of which predate the Seven Years' War and American Revolution. It is often sung patriotically in the United States today. It is the state anthem of Connecticut. Its ...

" * "Darling Nelly Gray" * "

Oh! Susanna "Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all tim ...

" * "

I've Been Working on the Railroad "I've Been Working on the Railroad" is an American folk song. The first published version appeared as "Levee Song" in ''Carmina Princetonia'', a book of Princeton University songs published in 1894. The earliest known recording is by the Shannon ...

" * "Sobra las Olas" * "

Home! Sweet Home! "Home, Sweet Home" is a song adapted from American actor and dramatist John Howard Payne's 1823 opera ''Clari, or the Maid of Milan'', the song's melody was composed by Englishman Sir Henry Bishop with lyrics by Payne. Bishop had earlier publ ...

" * "

Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864). It was published by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York in 1854. Foster wrote the song with his estranged wife Jane McDowell in mind. The lyrics allude to a permane ...

" * "Ten Thousand Cattle Straying" * "Pat, Sez He" * "

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" is a lighthearted song in tribute to Ireland. Its lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr., set to music composed by Ernest Ball, for Olcott's production of ''The Isle O' Dreams'', and Olcott s ...

" * "

The Irish Washerwoman "The Irish Washerwoman" is a traditional jig known to have been played throughout Britain and Ireland and in North America. Although usually considered an Irish tune, some scholars claim that it is English in origin, derived from the seventeenth-c ...

" * "Where Else but Here" * "

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' said the film was "sound dramatic stuff" with "vigor, good characterization and, fortunately, Mr. Eddy's singing."

Alternative title

The film went through two titles changes while in production. It was originally to be titled "Song of the West" and was then changed to "Song of the Plains." It is known by these alternative titles in some overseas locations.Castanza, Philip. ''The Films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy''. Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ 1978

References

External links

* * * * {{AFI film, id=2207, title=Let Freedom Ring 1939 films American black-and-white films 1939 Western (genre) films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films American Western (genre) films Films directed by Jack Conway Films scored by Arthur Lange 1930s English-language films 1930s American films