This starts with Robert E. Lee proclaiming that slavery is evil. It's 1856. "Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, whose gentle rule of the slaves was typical of the South." They even arrange the marriage of two fair-skinned slaves, Eliza and George Harris. Uncle Tom is their beloved slave. However, the institution of slavery insists on tearing this happy plantation apart.
It's the classic anti-slavery book brought to film. There is no doubt that the attempt is sincere and the production does not spare the expense but there are elements which have aged very badly. First, all the main slave characters are played by white actors except for Uncle Tom. I get the idea of differentiating between light-skinned and dark-skinned slaves. It's a little jarring to have them actually be white or in one case, doing blackface. In one way, I understand playing to the audience of the day. In another way, it looks very bad to a modern audience. Of course, there are the white saviors all over this movie. The little girl is literally sainted on film. For me, the most compelling scene is the one female slave who refuses to accept an apple from the little girl. I'm glad that this movie has that one scene. It's almost self-aware of its own racial insensitivity. Again, times have changed. Audiences in its day would love the little girl sainted for helping the slaves. Finally, there is no excusing Topsy which was probably meant to be funny and heartbreaking back then but OMG. This has not aged well.
It's the classic anti-slavery book brought to film. There is no doubt that the attempt is sincere and the production does not spare the expense but there are elements which have aged very badly. First, all the main slave characters are played by white actors except for Uncle Tom. I get the idea of differentiating between light-skinned and dark-skinned slaves. It's a little jarring to have them actually be white or in one case, doing blackface. In one way, I understand playing to the audience of the day. In another way, it looks very bad to a modern audience. Of course, there are the white saviors all over this movie. The little girl is literally sainted on film. For me, the most compelling scene is the one female slave who refuses to accept an apple from the little girl. I'm glad that this movie has that one scene. It's almost self-aware of its own racial insensitivity. Again, times have changed. Audiences in its day would love the little girl sainted for helping the slaves. Finally, there is no excusing Topsy which was probably meant to be funny and heartbreaking back then but OMG. This has not aged well.