Some suggest that this film was meant to be a poor man's "Gone With the Wind". A similar charge has often been leveled at the later film "Band of Angels", starring Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo There's probably some truth to this charge, but any film that deals with a subject somewhat resembling GWTW is going to be negatively compared to it. Remember, these 2 films are only half or less as long as GWTW. Why not just accept them on their own merits. They are all distinctive enough in their details to stand on their own.

There were, of course, Southern Unionists before and during the Civil War. Sometimes they were concentrated in particular regions. An obvious example is the northwestern part of Virginia, which seceded to become West Virginia. One Unionist was Newton Knight, who lived in Jones County, MS. He enlisted in the Confederate army, but eventually deserted, claiming to be a Unionist forced to fight for the Confederacy. He was the leader of a group of mostly deserters, mostly from Jones county and surrounding counties, who acted as guerillas against government troops and officials. For a time, he was jailed as a deserter, and his homestead burned, as an example. At one point, Knight and his supporters hid in a swamp, which government troops had great difficulty penetrating. This is the historical background from which this story is derived.

The Dabneys are the ruling extended family in the Levington Valley of MS. The patriarchal grandfather, Sam Dabney((Russell Simpson), is infirm on the eve of secession of MS from the Union, and dies after an emotional outburst against secession and its probable traumatic effect on his empire. His son and heir apparent: Hoab Dabney(Ward Bond), also is vehemently opposed to secession and against the war for similar reasons, and talks of seceding from the state if it secedes from the Union.

Hoab's daughter, Morna(Susan Hayward), is engaged to a cavalry officer(Whitfield Connor, as Clay) in the US army, who will join the Confederate army, against the wishes of the Dabneys. However, Morna severely hurts her back from a horse fall, and the doctor claims she will never walk again(There is conflicting evidence whether one or both legs are affected). Clay pretends that his love for her has not now diminished, but he soon begins dating her sister Aven(Julie London), and soon they are married. Meanwhile, journalist Keith Alexander(Van Helfin) has professed his love for Morna whatever her physical condition in the future may be. Morna's attendants keep massaging her legs and encouraging her to try to walk. One day, Keith's talk makes her angry, and she stands. With more exercises, she eventually is able to walk, albeit with a limp.

Meanwhile, Clay's troops have blockaded the southern pass out of the valley, so that the residents can't get supplies from the gulf port. Hoab and Keith have organized the valley residents into a fighting force against Clays troops. But Clay's artillery, especially, and setting of fires destroy the Dabney's mansion and other buildings. Hoab's and Keith's men retreat into a swamp, which Clay's troops are able to penetrate, and a battle ensues. I leave the climax and conclusion for you to see. Available at You Tube in Technicolor.

The most interesting relationship is that between Morna and Clay. The combination of her incapacitating injury and Clay's joining of the Confederate Army wrecked their romantic involvement. When it was discovered that Clay's army was about to attack the valley from the north, whereas Keith and his men had gone south for supplies, she rode to Clay's camp with the idea of convincing him that she still loved him more than Keith. She seduced him, with the intent of delaying the assault on the valley until Keith's men could return. But Clay saw through her plan and used the time to alter his attack plan and move his cannons forward, in position to bombard the Dabney Mansion.

Set in 1860s Missisippi with the prosperous Dabney family , founders of a rich plantation in Levington . The first founder was the proud grandfather Big Sam : Russell Simpson , though he remains really faithful to the Union . His son is called Hoab : War Bond and he has two beautiful daughters : Susan Hayward as Morna Debney , Julie London and a son : Richard Long . While war bursts out Hoab attempts to remain neutral and to withdraw the land around his plantation to avoid problems . Hoab gains support from local journalist Keith Alexander : Van Heflin . Grandfather Big Sam and Hoab attempt to keep their family out of the civil war but soon find find themselves much affected by tragic circumstances . They decide not get involved in the war because they believe that this isn't their war , but then things go wrong . Eventually , all of them get involved when their mansion is invaded by the Confederation troops . It is time of war and violence and tragedy reaches the Dabney family. When she lost her lover ... her sister gained one !

A thrilling and excting epic set in early Cvil American War in which both sides are really confronted , as the starring family , The Dabney , remains loyal to Union , while the daughter's boyfriend is an extreme Confederate officer . The films contains a similar plot to most successful "Shenandoah" 1965 by Andrew V McLagen with James Stewart , equally concerning a peaceful family becomes reluctantly involved into the Civil War resulting in fateful consequences . Main and support cast are pretty good . As Van Heflin is nice as the local newspaperman who finds himself in the middle of war and while falling in love for Morna Debney . And Susan Hayward is fine , though overacting at times , as the stubborn heir who suffers an accident being impeded to walk and along the way he is extremely enamored for a Southern officer . In addition, War Bond is the brave father who will stop at nothing to save his children , Boris Karloff plays competently an Indian who attempts to destroy the enemy plans , Russell Collins as the patriarch who vows to remains neutral , Julie London as the beautiful sister who will betray to Morna , besides : Richard Long as a valiente son , Whitfield Connor as the Cofederate Major , Arthur Shields as a Reverend , Rudy Dandridge as a servant , among others .

The motion picture produced in medium budget by Walter Wanger was professionallity directed by George Sherman , though with no much originality , neither enthusism and nor vigour , but there is entertainment enough . Sherman was a prolific artisan who made a long career , directing films of all kinds of genres and with penchant for Western , such as : "Big Jake" , "War Arrow", "Treasure of Pancho Villa" , "War Arrow" , "Tomahawk" , " Comanche Territory" , "The Last of the Badmen", "The Sombrero Kid" , "Santa Fe Stampede" , "Cowboys From Texas" , "Rock Mountain Rangers" , "Covered Wagon Days" , "Frontier Horizon", "Outlaws of Sonora", "Wyoming Outlaw" , "Pals of the Saddle" , "Overland Stage Raiders" , "Three Texas Steers" , "Outlaws of Sonora" , among others . Well worth watching.

The story is about the Dabney family and it begins in Mississippi just before the Civil War. The Dabneys are a proud family and not in favor of secession. But they and the folks around them are a distinct minority and eventually they end up seceding from Mississippi once the state joins the Confederacy. Not surprisingly, the new Confederacy is NOT pleased that this county has joined the Union...and bad things are a comin'.

But there's much more to the tale and it centers around Morna Dabney (Susan Hayward). She is vivacious and beloved by Clay--a man who loves the idea of war and secession. But when Morna is injured and it appears as if she'll never walk again, Clay shows his true colors...and the roguish Keith (Van Helfin) steps up and shows he really is a heck of a guy.

This is enjoyable and with very nice acting. The only real problem is that what happens to the Dabneys and the county is pretty much foreordained and there are few surprises here. The story, by the way, was inspired by a similar situation in Jones county, where such a rebellion against the state of Mississippi occurred.