The Vanishing Virginian

Drawn to this movie on TCM by the name, I was tickled to find it was set in my hometown of Lynchburg. The writer absolutely had to have lived here. I found myself rolling with laughter at parts that I don't think anyone in the country could quite understand in the same way unless they had spent a great deal of time around here. Any former or present resident of Lynchburg must see this gem. I hope movie archivists realize the historical significance of this film and keep it around for posterity. The movie industry was very busy in Virginia at the time, making another favorite of mine, "Virginia" starring Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carroll that I also recommend. More recently, we were privileged to be in the company of Bill Murray and company during the filming of "What about Bob" at nearby Smith Mountain Lake, Patrick Swayze during the filming of "Dirty Dancing" at Mountain Lake Resort, and in Historic Lexington, Jodie Foster of "Sommersby" and Tom Cruise of "War Of The Worlds" Virginia is also home of TV's "The Waltons" My mother grew up with the real Hamner family in her small hometown of Schuyler where her elementary school was converted into "The Walton Mountain Museum" which features sets from the movie and memorabilia.

"This is the story of a vanishing era when simple men so loved their country, their families that America became a better place to live." The setting is 1913 Lynchburg, Virginia. There, popular prosecuting attorney Frank Morgan (as Robert "Cap'n Bob" Yancey) resides with his large family. Likewise "old-fashioned" wife Spring Byington (as Rosa) is the mother. The couple have five children, led by high-pitched Kathryn Grayson (as Rebecca) and lawyer-like Natalie Thompson (as Margaret). The "girls" are ready to choose mates and careers, which gets to the film's intended sub-textual theme - the changing role of women in the 20th century...

There is a story here, but not the one you're expecting...

The possibility one of the daughters may become an attorney is addressed, although marrying a lawyer is preferable. Women do drive motor vehicles, without hysterics (transportation brackets the decades spanning film artfully); most significantly, a minor female character is portrayed as a relatively positive divorcée. Now contrast the "hints" of freedom permitted women with those afforded ex-slaves and you've got a more interesting film. Beloved family retainers "Aunt" Louise Beavers (as Emmeline) and "Uncle" Leigh Whipper (as Josh) know their place is happily slaving away their lives away for the white master. It's insightfully racist.

****** The Vanishing Virginian (1/23/42) Frank Borzage ~ Frank Morgan, Spring Byington, Kathryn Grayson, Louise Beavers

Don't watch this film if you are an avowed or sub-conscious Marxist who is significantly distressed and trigged by the fact that not every decade in American history was like the enlightened 2000s, who is disturbed at the fact that not everyone in history thinks exactly like we do today and who is distraught at the fact that race and gender relations needed to naturally develop and improve within a context of relative social stability over a great deal of time - rather than be immediately overthrown in a 'glorious revolution'.

However, if you are a person who is able to put aside their presentist bias, you may thoroughly enjoy this delightful portrait of a southern family in the early 20th century.

Others here have very ably and fondly described the movie's storyline, characters, and acting; however, there has not been attention paid to the music in this film, especially to Kathryn Grayson's talents

Miss Grayson's talents are well displayed, both as a singer and as an actress, and her amazing voice is put to good use here without seeming overly contrived, even to modern ears; the songs were appropriate to the scene, such as when Miss Grayson's character was entertaining two little girls by singing to them playfully, or when an impromptu ensemble joined on the home's front porch one evening, singing and laughing, which was not at all unusual in the days before air conditioning, televisions, and computers.

Individually and in ensembles, many of the cast contributed their vocal and instrumental talents, with two moments standing out as particularly touching: the congregation singing at the funeral (with Miss Grayson having a prominent role), and the town's men singing a heartfelt "Auld Lang Syne" at the film's closing scene.

No, this is not a musical, but like many films of that era and of this genre, there is music in it. It is not music that is merely incidental or music that underscores on-screen action, but music integral to the story and which is itself part of the dialogue -- part of the story.

"The Vanishing Virginian" is a gentle reminder of how the masters of a bygone era told their stories. Sometimes it seems we are missing a lot in more modern movies.

It's 1913 in Virginia. Six term Prosecuting Attorney of Lynchburg, Robert Yancey (Frank Morgan), intends to run for a seventh term despite his wife's objection. They have five children and plenty of black servants who are treated as family.

This movie is pushing very hard for the nostalgia of the old south. It is interesting for this era of cinema and as a study of the old societal conventions. It's based on the memoirs from one of Robert's children. None of this has lasted long in the popular imagination. It's trying to show a life of racial justice, but the paternal attitude overwhelms the works. It doesn't help with the dated comedy from the accidental black-face. It's a different time. The family story is rather scattered. It's a lot of rambling happenings without structure. It's a time and a place, not only for this story but when this was released.