‘The Romance of Rosy Ridge’ From 1947: After the Civil War
Commentary
Many movies have been made about the American Civil War, since it was one of the most strife-filled times in U.S. history. Arguably, the most famous Civil War movie from Hollywood’s Golden Era is “Gone with the Wind” from 1939, but this Academy Award-winner paved the way for more movies set in the Old South by proving that the War Between the States could be a very dramatic setting.
“The Romance of Rosy Ridge” from 1947 is a unique movie in this category, because it takes place after the Civil War has ended. It stars Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, and 19-year-old Janet Leigh in her film debut. The thought-provoking story, based on the novel of the same name by MacKinlay Kantor, deals with the challenges of healing after a war, as neighbors must forgive each other and learn to be friends again. It contains a poignant message about how hostility between neighbors can destroy a community….