Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Perfect cast and a good story

Absolutely the worst movie.

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Spoilers. Observations. Opinions.American slave trade ended 1807 by Congress. Why was Gable in Civil War era talking about his work in that field? That was an era ending fifty years before, and even Gable didn't look that old.This looked to be historically incorrect, but will be overlooked for the sake of the story. Louisiana became American (from the French; Napoleon) in 1803, so this makes even less sense.Back to the story. A funeral has people singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, meaning heaven coming to take Yvonne de Carlo's father away. I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? A band of angels comin' after me. These are lyrics of this old song. The River Jordan is another euphemism for heaven.Bands of angels didn't rescue Manty, de Carlo's character. She was found belatedly to have had an African American mother, and in antebellum times that was a definite no-no.She's sent to a slave auction. She's such a hot tomata that bidders end in none other than Clark Gable, a swell-dressed local Colonel Sanders.Gable purchases her for a large sum of money. On the way to the auction, though, she is assaulted by a bad guy, but is rescued and is to live in a lovely antebellum mansion with Gable. Gable is filthy rich, and Manty has been raised to be a cultured and elegant young woman. Gable dresses her in fine clothes. They make a nice-looking pair.Gable's house slaves are mainly female, but in walks a striking dark man portrayed by Sidney Poitier. Poitier is opinionated and mouthy. He was rescued in childhood by Gable. Gable educated him as his own son, but Poitier's character always resents the way Africans are treated in general.A maid says Poitier will be king of the mansion, some day, and that Gable has willed the abode to him. Later, Union army occupiers want Gable's castle, and, naturally, Poitier has joined their army. The mansion has been ransacked by those darned Yankee invaders, and Poitier is now king of nothing. Gable is still alive, and Poitier sneakily helps him escape the bloodthirsty bluecoats after accusing Gable of giving him such a terrible upbringing.Denouement: Gable and Manty ride off in a boat to further adventures, with Gable's old sea dog friend rescuing them. Meanwhile, Poitier is on the shore, seeing them off.Poitier. Strong characters. Lilies of the Field, 1963. Don't mess with me. They Call Me Mr. Tibbs, 1970. In the Heat of the Night, 1967. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, 1967. Civil rights movement era, in the decade or two after Band of Angels, and African Americans demanding humane treatment. Poitier did a great job in explaining reality. Sidney, you are the greatest.I am a degreed historian, actress, film critic and movie reviewer.

Band of Angels (1957)A lot of people saw this as Clark Gable playing up the "Gone With the Wind" angle, but it's really a story about slavery and race in America. It's not a classic like GWTW, but it should stand on it's own merits. Sure, it's a bit watered down for the late 50s sensibilities, and yes, it's pretty melodramatic stuff, but it's not a bad movie and well worth a look.A young, beautiful Yvonne De Carlo plays Amantha Starr, the daughter of a plantation owner. She's away at college when she is asked to come home. Her father has taken ill and by the time she arrives, he has already passed away. Then comes the realization that Amantha is really half black, and instead of the daughter of a plantation owner, she will now be sold along with all of the other property to pay off back taxes. Hamish Bond (Clark Gable) buys her, but sets her up like a lady.A 30 year old Sidney Poitier plays Rau-Ru, a freed slave and raised as Hamish's son. Rau- Ru was educated, so he is all too aware of the atrocities that are performed on black people by people like Hamish, himself, so there's a love/hate relationship going on there.This DVD was released a little before Yvonne De Carlo death, and it's good that we get a chance to see her before she became well-known as Lilly Munster.

It's been said that this cinematic treasure is "Gone With the Wind-ish," but that's in the movie's pre-Civil War setting only. I wanted to watch this over-and-over for reasons too numerous to list here; so I'll go with just the top of my list:1. First, the plot is very creative and believable. I cannot say that this movie reminds me of another that I've seen.2. Amantha's life goes from serene and privileged to total upheaval within the first 10 minutes - such that she wants to kill herself. As a viewer, I was totally locked-in and had to know what was to become of her.3. Though "Rhett-dressed," Gable's acting is superb and fitting to his age (nearing 60!). He's calm, a well-settled gentleman, and mysterious versus forward, feisty and easily-readable as Rhett was. How great to see his acting un-stereotypical, creative, well-seasoned and peaked!4. The unfolding story is full of twists and secrets, all along the way.5. The "secret" of Amantha's past and that of Hamish (Gable) is so antithetical, making their relationship the least-likely to succeed.6. A variety of chemistry mixes develop between Amantha and various suitors - but the deepest develops with Gable despite his age. Both Gable (Hamish) and the much-younger, handsome Seth know her past, but oh-how-differently they treat her!7. The black chorus acapella singing is ahhh ear-candy!8. The plantation setting and costuming is wooo-hooo eye-candy!9. The supporting cast just adds to the intensity of the unfolding story, taking this viewer's emotions from shock to angry to suspense to elated . . .I'll skip #10-999 and simply recommend that you watch and enjoy . . . as many times as you like ;)

certainly not "Gone With The Wind" but living in the south, and since yesterday was the anniversary of the Civil War, I watched the TCM marathon.The acting isn't superb and yes, Gable is looking a much older Rhett Butler here, and seems to walk through the part of swaggering blockade blackguard and tradesman, a familiar role. Yvonne DeCarlo though is rather good, and stunning as Amantha Starr, a woman who is sold down the river once it is discovered her background is mixed race. Sidney Poitier is very good here, I will not spoil the ending so you should watch for his performance.But the sets of New Orleans courtyards, balmy evenings, and Spanish moss conjure up the romantic unspoiled south which we no longer see today. Yes, the chanting and singing of slaves is rather Hollywood factitious: and we saw similar productions like this in "Jezebel" with Bette Davis. Also it occurs to me this plot is similar to the Elizabeth Taylor film "Raintree County" although that was based in Kentucky.If you can put aside the race issue and simply take it as a B-picture, no message here, but it does show Technicolor sweeping version of a lush and romantic American South we have never seen, and never will see. 8/10.