Whether one likes Virginia or not I think all will agree the film is in bad need of
restoration. This was a big budget item for Paramount in 1941 and it marked
Sterling Hayden's debut.
At least this corner of the Old Dominion doesn't look like it changed much since the Civil War. Madeleine Carroll is the heir to a large estate down there and she's come down from New York to sell the old plantation.
Selling the old place would offend local sensibilities and be contrary to the way of life or so Madeleine is informed by Fred MacMurray who has the place next door. But a transplanted northerner played vby Sterling Hayden next foor on the other side wants to buy the old plantation.
So Carroll is caught both romantically and business wise between MacMrray and Hayden. Guess who she chooses.
In real life she chose Sterling Hayden and one must read an account of how he arrived at Paramount with no theatrical background and got this second lead in a bid budget picture. It's all in his memoir The Wanderer.
The reason this film just ain't seen too often is the unbelievable portrayal of the black people who act like slavery never was abolished. Louise Beaver and Leigh Whipper and the rest made me wince and can you imagine what a black person might feel watching Virginia.
This will never make a top five for either of the three leads.
At least this corner of the Old Dominion doesn't look like it changed much since the Civil War. Madeleine Carroll is the heir to a large estate down there and she's come down from New York to sell the old plantation.
Selling the old place would offend local sensibilities and be contrary to the way of life or so Madeleine is informed by Fred MacMurray who has the place next door. But a transplanted northerner played vby Sterling Hayden next foor on the other side wants to buy the old plantation.
So Carroll is caught both romantically and business wise between MacMrray and Hayden. Guess who she chooses.
In real life she chose Sterling Hayden and one must read an account of how he arrived at Paramount with no theatrical background and got this second lead in a bid budget picture. It's all in his memoir The Wanderer.
The reason this film just ain't seen too often is the unbelievable portrayal of the black people who act like slavery never was abolished. Louise Beaver and Leigh Whipper and the rest made me wince and can you imagine what a black person might feel watching Virginia.
This will never make a top five for either of the three leads.