Crosby Plays To The South

Dixie (1943) Is Bing's First Feature In Technicolor

Was there nothing of interest in Dan Emmett's life other than minstrelsy and fact he wrote "Dixie"? Judging by total fictionalization here, I'd guess not. Emmett was obscure to a 40's public beyond cleffing of immortal title song, a 19th century one-hit wonder. Other of Dixie music came of modern tunesmiths, done to Crosby measure and never mind fidelity to the period or unique format that was minstrelsy. That last gets in Bing's way for his having to cork up for most numbers and thus lost in crowd of similarly disguised ensemble. Recreation of minstrel shows is true to basics, but not detail. We get little sense of how hugely popular this format was back in heyday, peak of which predated even oldsters who went to see Dixie in 1943. Still, most at least knew what minstrels were, even as race sensitivity had begun process of discrediting them. WWII was spur to this --- I'd venture there would not have been a Dixie made even three-four years later. Advantage pic had in 1943 was nary mention of the current war, audiences having got exhausted with the topic, and eager for full escape from it. Still, the trailer lauded "Dixie" as "The Greatest War Song Of All Time," so there's at least a nod.

Six "New Songs" were on tap --- Crosby faithfuls Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen got a workout here. Beating of formula rug needed six writers, an always trouble with highest profile product where each party second-guessed the other. This was surprisingly Bing Crosby's first starring feature in Technicolor, a fact made well-known in ads, but he'd otherwise be poorly served, for Dixie wavers where he's not singing, the gags lame and a love triangle hardly to liking of viewers then or now. There's a running joke of Bing's mislaid pipe starting fires, as in to-the-ground, which is not only unfunny, but outright disturbing when one of blazes takes place in a crowded theatre. Was it wise to make light of disasters still in memory of many during that nitrate era when cataclysms often resulted in loss of lives? Theatre fires were simply not something to kid about, and I'm surprised Para brass didn't scotch the over-emphasized routine. Directing Dixie was A. Edward Sutherland, a comedy whiz from silents, but defeated by faulty makings here; he and Crosby had done much better by similar content in 1935's Mississippi. Dixie can be had on Region Two DVD, another of Universal's bearded transfers, a pity because this one could look great in HD with reclaimed Technicolor.