Tap Roots (1948)

The Dabney family has put down deep roots in Lebanon, Mississippi. They rule the area.

And when the Civil War breaks out, Hoab Dabney (Ward Bond) is convinced the best option is to declare neutrality and stay out of the conflict.

The war also interrupts lovely young Morna Dabney’s (Susan Hayward’s) plans to marry young cavalry officer Clay McIvor (Whitfield Connor).

Instead, he rushes off to fight for the south, which puts him at odds with Morna’s dad, but not necessarily her younger sister Aven (Julie London).

Aven is having thoughts of stealing Clay for her own, just as newspaper editor Keith Alexander (Van Heflin) is beginning to gain interest in Morna.

In fact, Alexander helps Hoab Dabney promote his stance of neutrality through his newspaper, not because he believes it’s a good idea — indeed, he believes it’s folly doomed to failure — but because it will keep him close to Morna.

Then tragedy strikes. Morna is partially paralyzed in a riding accident. Clay proclaims his undying love for her, but is soon secretly meeting Aven.

That’s the opening Alexander was waiting for. But he’ll soon find himself in a battle to save Lebanon County. Because the Confederate army has blockaded it and put it under siege.

The man in charge of the Confederate forces: Clay McIvor.

Review:

An interesting concept — a county declaring neutrality during the Civil War — is spoiled because filmmakers were more interested in remaking Gone With the Wind.

So Hoab Dadney, patriarch of the Dabney family after his father’s death, becomes a secondary player in the overly melodramatic romantic rectangle playing out around him.

Van Heflin isn’t up to pulling off a Rhett Butler type role. Julie London’s character pretty much disappears after she steals her sister’s man.

Susan Hayward is charmingly Scarlet like early in the film, warning her sister of the possibility of an early demise in one fit of jealousy and tying her to a bedpost in another.

Then comes her chance to be a heroine, even if it means sacrificing her honor and her new love with Alexander. Her dad prays that something will delay Clay McIvor’s advance so his militia will have time to prepare a defense.

So Morna rides off, fully intending to spend the night with Clay, with the help of some sleeping potion!

The film is partly salvaged by a large-scale, climatic attack by Confederates on Lebanon.

Directed by:
George Marshall

Cast:
Van Heflin … Keith Alexander
Susan Hayward … Morna Dabney
Boris Karloff … Tishomingo
Julie London … Aven Dabney
Whitfield Connor … Clay McIvor
Ward Bond … Hoab Dabney
Richard Long … Bruce Dabney
Arthur Shields … Rev. Kirkland
Griff Barnett … Dr. MacIntosh
Sondra Rodgers … Shellie Dabney
Ruby Dandridge … Dabby
Russell Simpson … Big Sam Dabney

Runtime: 109 min.

Memorable lines:

Morna Dabney, as she tries to sneak the brandy decanter to her grandfather, but is stopped by the maid: “I’m ashamed of you. Wanting to deprive grandpa of a little pleasure.”
Dabby: “I don’t want to deprive Mr. Sam of nothin’. But your mamma is going to see that decanter goin’ down and he gets the pleasure and I get the layin’ out.”

Morna Dabney: “Dabby says I should give Clay a love charm. She knows how to make one. You grind up rooster spurs … Grandpa, do those things work?”
Samuel Dabney: “If that dress doesn’t get him, there’s no use grinding up any roosters. It hasn’t got any top. Or is it coming off?”
Morna: “It just gives that impression.”

Samuel Dabney of granddaughter Morna: “There’s enough dynamite in that girl to twist the whole history of this family and this valley beyond recognition.”

Samuel Dabney: “This valley is only 20 miles of this earth. But it’s the place where this family has put its tap root down. No power in the world can dictate to you here.”

Keith Alexander to Morna: “I give you fair warning. I’m going to keep on making love to you whether you marry him (Clay) or not.”

Susan Hayward as Morna Dabney and Julie London as sister Aven, prettying up for company in Tap Roots (1948)

Susan Hayward as Morna Dabney, reacts to a slap from Keith Alexander in Tap Roots (1948)

Julie London as Aven Dabney, secretly meeting with Clay McIvor (Whitfield Connor), her sister’s fiancee in Tap Roots (1948)

Boris Karloff as Tishomingo, wielding a whip and showing why he’s a trusted ally for the Dabney family in Tap Roots (1948)

Ward Bond as Hoab Dabney, the man who wanted to keep his Mississippi county out of the Civil War in Tap Roots (1948)

Van Heflin as Keith Alexander, a newspaper editor determined to win over a southern belle in Tap Roots (1948)