Dixiana

All right, putting aside the stereotypical characterizations of Old South slaves not to mention many operatic songs that date this movie today, I rather enjoyed this early talkie musical with the two-strip Technicolor that was used in the final sequence. I mean, I was a little disappointed how little Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey were used but when they were on screen, they were quite amusing. And seeing Dorothy Lee & Wheeler sing is always a treat and it was a nice surprise to see Woolsey have his own number here as well. Oh, and for both historical and entertainment purposes, an African-American tap dancer named Bill "Bojangles" Robinson does his thing in his film debut and in that color sequence, to boot! So on that note, Dixiana is a worthy movie to watch if you're interested in these old movies like yours truly. P.S. Though this supposedly takes place in New Orleans (where I only live a 2-hour drive from), I'm guessing this was wholly shot on a studio back lot.

The title role of Dixiana is played by Bebe Daniels who is a circus performer in an act with Wheeler&Woolsey. Offstage she's pursued by young southern blade Everett Marshall and Snidely Whiplash like gambler Ralf Harolde.

Dixiana was RKO Pictures big budget film for 1930. It's given a lavish production, but unfortunately it's crashingly dull except when Wheeler&Woolsey are on and when Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson gets to do a specialty number.

Part of the problem is Everett Marshall, fresh from the Metropolitan Opera, makes Nelson Eddy look like Marlon Brando. Marshall does have a stirring baritone and maybe if Dixiana had a few hits come from it, his career might have lasted in films. As it was, Marshall knew he was better on the musical and concert stage and wisely stayed there the rest of his career.

Wheeler&Woolsey bring their own brand of humor, shattering certain traditions of the old south as the code duello. The duel they fight for Dorothy Lee's affections is hilarious.

As Dixiana is set in the old south, racial and other stereotypes do abound. But unless you like Wheeler&Woolsey and Bojangles, there's no reason to see this film.

As other comments on this site will tell you, this film is either an "antique treasure" or a "pre- historic turkey" ...(that is so hilarious! I laughed for days at that description) .... well like many others in the warbling yelling cast, I shall declare my love for DIXIANA, albeit from 79 years away. I am quite fascinated with the period of 1927-1935 and to see this sumptuous RKO production filmed in late 1929 with its lavish Technicolor finale is a dream and a thrill at the same time.. (remember those dreams?). Also Bebe Daniels is simply awesomely beautiful. As a production it is massive and atmospheric... I read somewhere this film actually captures the deep south of the 1860s which I believed I could actually feel. Also the limelight vaudeville scenes at the hippodrome and the interiors of the steamy mansions with riverboats gliding by and willows overhanging transported me to that period quite effectively. The presence of Wheeler and Woolsey and their rudeness added many laughs... in fact in Australia most of their films were released on VHS tape and quite often they play on national television on the late late show. I have quite a few and in Sydney, HIPS HIPS HOORAY and MUMMY'S BOYS have been seen a lot....and DIPLOMANIACS is an absolute scream of a comedy just like DUCK SOUP. ..anyway in DIXIANA they almost overshadow the film. The 1929 sound is really loud and clear with some really lusty operatic singing and plenty of lavish sets and art direction to enjoy. The most constantly dazzling aspect to this expensive film are the costumes, in particular the many jaw-dropping gowns and the riotous Technicolor Mardi Gras finale. The added dancing (minus his feet!!!) of Bill Robinson is a cropped treat, but the color and the spectacular lavish set and dressings add the thrill of endless beauty back into the enjoyment most effectively. Yes DIXIANA is an antique treasure for me, so if you get to see it, watch it with someone who appreciates the elements listed above.

Wheeler and Woolsey musical comedy set in the pre-Civil War South is a mixed bag. The comedy duo are not the "stars" of the picture, rather that is Bebe Daniels. Wheeler and Woolsey are instead the comic relief and they do a good job of creating laughs. The plot concerns the pair attempting to make sure that the wedding of their sister goes off with out a hitch. Its a big scale musical of the kind they don't make any more.

The film is based on a Broadway show and while it is suitably spectacular at times it suffers from the problem many films of the time suffered from and that is an uncertainty of camera usage. Because of the sound equipment was noisy and large directors and studios were still struggling with how to shoot scenes or move a camera, here the camera is either moving nicely or painfully nailed down. Its a tough slog. Then again the film's operetta style music is really not my cup of tea.

If you like musicals its worth a try, especially if you're interested in the history of movie musicals.

(I do have to say that rarely have I ever felt a movie recreated a bygone era as well as this film does. Hollywood flourishes aside this film really does feel as if you're watching something from long ago in the deep south)

A real artifact of the earliest talkies and musicals, which includes the first two-strip Technicolor (the last half of the movie). The romance between a New Orleans cabaret singer (Bebe Daniels) and the scion of a plantation (Everett Marshall) is your basic boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl-due-to-misunderstanding-her-selfless-action, boy-gets-girl-back story......all this interspersed with singing, dancing, vaudeville routines (Wheeler & Woolsey), circus acts, chorus girls, contortionists, evil machinations of an oily villain, a near duel, and superb tap-dancing (Bill Robinson)!

The dialog and acting are painfully weak and the storyline lurches roughly from scene to scene - often with little sense or continuity. The 75-year-old film is sharply dated by several instances of slaves in the background singin' and workin' happily for their beloved master and being called "boy" instead of by name. The impending Civil War is totally ignored.

Still, I recommend "Dixiana" as valuable viewing for its historical Technicolor sequence as well as its illustration of the then-prevailing movie fiction of happy slaves working for benign masters in the sweet and gentle South.