Band of Angels (1957)

Good concept, poorly executed.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

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.

Sold into slavery when it is revealed that she has African American blood, an orphaned young woman has to wrestle with her racial identity as well as the unclear intentions of an owner who treats her as a guest rather than a slave in this Raoul Walsh drama set during the American Civil War. There are some great subplots, particularly Sidney Poitier as a bitter slave who decides to assert himself, however, the central story is too melodramatic to click with personal identity issues pushed into the backdrop to focus on the tension between Yvonne De Carlo and Clark Gable as the protagonists. Conflict comes from De Carlo believing that Gable only wants her body since he does not treat her like a slave, and Gable having to convince her that he is just benevolent to all slaves. There are a couple of other (younger) supporting characters with romantic designs on De Carlo too, and yet there is a limit to how involving it is to watch De Carlo contend with suitor after suitor. Max Steiner's garishly overbearing music score also only serves to highlight just how soap opera-like the film is, which is a shame because a lot could have been made from a film about a woman grasping with her ethnic routes. Shot on location in Louisana, the film certainly looks nice enough, but it is easy to see why Gable was disenchanted with the overall product, refusing to work with Walsh again afterwards.

In Kentucky in the antebellum of the Civil War, Amantha Starr (Yvonne De Carlo) is the pride and joy of her father, the plantation owner Aaron Starr (William Forrest) that treats her slaves with dignity. When he dies, Amantha learns that he mother was black and she is included as a slave to be sold to pay his father's debts. She is sent to an auction in New Orleans and bought by the wealthy Hamish Bond (Clark Gable) by a fortune. He brings her home and treats her as if she were a guest. Amantha meets the slaves Rau-Ru (Sidney Poitier), who is treated like a son, and Michele (Carolle Drake), who is Hamish's mistress and in love with him. Soon they fall in love with each other, but Hamish discloses a dreadful secret from his past, their relationship ends. Meanwhile the Civil War breaks out and Hamish becomes a wanted man while Rau-Ru joins the Union Army. Will the love of Amantha and Hamish be doomed by the war? "Band of Angels" is a romantic epic that seems to be a soap opera with a story with many twists. The plot seems to be a melodramatic version of "Gone with the Wind" and Rau-Ru first attitude is ungrateful. The best moment of this melodrama is when Amantha discovers that she is considered a black woman and consequently a slave. Her situation is impressive and heartbreaking. The spoiled woman is suddenly transformed into a property of despicable men. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Meu Pecado Foi Nascer" ("My Sin Was to be Born")

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 ;)