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Swanee River

Swanee River

Release: 1939-12-29 ·Runtime: 84m ·★ 6.7
Drama Music Thriller

Swanee River is a 1940 American biopic about Stephen Foster, a songwriter from Pittsburgh who falls in love with the South, marries a Southern girl, then is accused of sympathizing when the Civil War breaks out. Typical of 20th Century Fox biopics of the time, the film is more fictional than factual biography.

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

Cast

Felix Bressart Felix Bressart as Henry Kleber Esther Dale Esther Dale as Temperance Woman Arthur Rankin Arthur Rankin as Clerk George Meeker George Meeker as Henry Foster Edward Earle Edward Earle as Master of Ceremonies William Newell William Newell as Bill, Stagehand Mae Marsh Mae Marsh as Mrs. Jonathan Fry (uncredited) Les Clark Les Clark as Specialty Harry Depp Harry Depp as Dresser Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford as Bit Role Selmer Jackson Selmer Jackson as Army Medical Examiner Gladden James Gladden James as Hotel Clerk Billy Wayne Billy Wayne as Agitator Clara Blandick Clara Blandick as Mrs. Griffin Leona Roberts Leona Roberts as Mrs. Foster Dora Clement Dora Clement as Nurse Hal K. Dawson Hal K. Dawson as Drunken Man on Riverboat Forbes Murray Forbes Murray as Critic Herbert Rawlinson Herbert Rawlinson as Army Officer George P. Breakston George P. Breakston as Ambrose John Hamilton John Hamilton as Doctor George O'Hanlon George O'Hanlon as Ticket Taker Andrea Leeds Andrea Leeds as Jane McDowell Foster Al Jolson Al Jolson as Edwin P. Christy Nella Walker Nella Walker as Mrs. McDowell George H. Reed George H. Reed as Old Joe, McDowell's Coachman Georgia Caine Georgia Caine as Ann Rowan Robert Emmett Keane Robert Emmett Keane as Drunken Agitator David Newell David Newell as Guest Lloyd Whitlock Lloyd Whitlock as Critic Don Ameche Don Ameche as Stephen Foster Russell Hicks Russell Hicks as Andrew McDowell Charles Tannen Charles Tannen as Morrison Foster Robert Homans Robert Homans as Sheriff Jesse Graves Jesse Graves as Butler Harry Strang Harry Strang as Boat Captain Matthew Beard Matthew Beard as Negro Boy Claire Du Brey Claire Du Brey as Woman in Cafe James C. Morton James C. Morton as Bartender Harry Tenbrook Harry Tenbrook as Jim, Saloon Waiter Charles Trowbridge Charles Trowbridge as Mr. Foster James Blaine James Blaine as Bartender Edward LeSaint Edward LeSaint as Jonathan Fry, Justice of the Peace George Magrill George Magrill as Agitator Larry Steers Larry Steers as Man on Riverboat Richard Clarke Richard Clarke as Tom Harper Harry Hayden Harry Hayden as Erwin Eleanor Hansen Eleanor Hansen as Bit Role Chick Chandler Chick Chandler as Bones Charles Halton Charles Halton as Pond Tom Seidel Tom Seidel as Bellboy Harry Tyler Harry Tyler as Pianist