Swing Out, Sweet Land

This program is now available on professional DVD under the title "John Wayne's Tribute to America". The release date is July 31, 2007 but my copy arrived a few days early.

This video runs approximately 80 minutes. The only extras on the disk are the original sponsor commercials and a clip of JW on "What's My Line?". The picture quality is very good for a 37 year old show - crisp and clear (nothing like the faded, blurred quality of a VHS version I purchased on eBay a few years ago).

This is a production typical of the 60's & 70's musical comedy shows but that's what fun for anyone who regularly tuned in to watch Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, etc. It's hokey and as patriotic as a 4th of July special.

An internet search showed that several major book and/or DVD sellers have it. FYI, I have no connection to the company that put it out - I'm just happy to finally have it!

...and yes, it was theme park quality song-and-dance, variety show with a history outline. But it was not meant to be anything else. It was entertainment. PBS has done more "serious" in-depth, and well-researched history TV documentaries in later years as have the History channel, A & E, etc. But please note that these are just as much entertainment for audiences, otherwise the ratings wouldn't be there, the audience would not be there, and the motivation for the makers (at least enough money to live on) would not be there to make them. I remember this and others like it fondly, perhaps through rose-colored glasses of remembrance. But I also remember (and I don't know why this has stuck in my strange memory) that when it came to a Civil War section some mention was made of current racial unrest and the continuing themes of equality.

I would enjoy seeing it again if only for a glimpse of the celebrities that are gone and seeing a time when such did not hesitate to say patriotic things for fear of being hissed at.

For many years, the wonderful montage of each guest singing a line from "God Bless America" stayed with me. I managed to find a cassette of the show and got chills watching it again. They don't make shows like this anymore...I can't imagine a group of today's stars so large who I'd care to see at all. What would it take to get this special seen on TV again? In our post-9/11 world, it would be a nostalgic reminder of a generation that APPRECIATED where we came from, and what LIBERTY and FREEDOM are all about. To anyone reading this who may own the rights to this special, bring it back on video and you'll find a very receptive public.

"Swing Out, Sweet Land" is a very unusual TV special hosted by John Wayne. It's an uber-patriotic show, chock full of history (some woefully wrong), comedy, drama and music.

The context for this is important to keep in mind. In 1970, the USA was divided between conservative, patriotic-minded folks and liberal, hippe-types...or so it seemed at the time. As a result of protests about the Vietnam War, some became more conservative...and this show is a very conservative reaction to the hippie movement. It also shows a lot of the patriotism that would grow through the 1970s as a result of the upcoming Bicentennial.

Today, it just seems VERY dated and, at times, a bit painful to watch (such as Dan Blocker playing an American Indian and most of Bob Hope's jokes).

I think for non-Americans, they'll find this sort of film VERY confusing as this sort of overt patriotism is either unknown to them or held in disdain (such as by German viewers). I don't think there's much that's comparable.

For me, as an American, I still found this a bit passe and overly schmaltzy. No, I am not an America-hating commie...I just don't feel that comfortable with this much patriotism. Plus, as a US History teacher, I hated that much of the history in the show is wrong (such as the purchase of Manhattan, the importance of the Liberty Bell and a few other items from the show). But I DO recommend you see this if you want some insight into the USA circa 1970. You also might want to see it in order to see a who's who of conservative actors and singers...such as Jack Benny, Dean Martin and many others. Oddly, it also has a couple of Canadians (Lorne Green who later became a naturalized US citizen and William Shatner). It also features a few naturalized Americans...people who were born abroad but became US citizens, such as Bob Hope and Ann-Margret.

By the way, one of the participants in the show clearly was NOT a conservative. Tom Smothers was very anti-Vietnam War and was well known for his left-leaning views. Of course, he could have been very patriotic...but his conscience simply couldn't allow him not to speak out against the war. But I am surprised John Wayne let him be on the show.

The fact John Wayne comes out and says these tales are "tongue in cheek" goes a long way in these vignettes about America. He admits that some times settlers did not behave correctly, which is nice. Some stereotypes are hard to watch, but we need to remember that 50 years ago what was acceptable may not be acceptable today. The jokes are funny/corny, the tales are fun to watch, and the songs are good to sing along to.

I find it interesting that in 1970 there were people protesting (some of whom are on this variety show) but they still came together with the conservatives like Wayne, Ball, and Ann-Margaret to celebrate America in song, dance, and jokes. Today, it seems people are too firmly identified as "pro" or "con" to come together to celebrate the idea of America. Yet this shows it can be done, there is room for moderates in this world.

We can still be proud.