Tap Roots (1948)

Tap Roots is a 1948 period film set during the American Civil War. It is very loosely based on the true life story of Newton Knight, a farm owner who attempted to secede Jones County from Mississippi.

Made by Walter Wanger Productions and Universal International Pictures, it was directed by George Marshall and produced by Walter Wanger from a screenplay by Alan Le May, based on the 1942 novel Tap Roots by James H. Street, with additional dialogue by Lionel Wiggam. The original music was by Frank Skinner and the cinematography by Winton C. Hoch and Lionel Lindon.

The film stars Van Heflin and Susan Hayward with Boris Karloff, Julie London, Whitfield Connor, Ward Bond and Richard Long.

A radio version of Tap Roots, with Van Heflin, Susan Hayward and Richard Long reprising their film roles, was broadcast by the Lux Radio Theatre on September 27, 1948.

Synopsis

La famille Dabney est propriétaire d’une vaste plantation à Levington dans le Mississippi mais la guerre de Sécession menace d’éclater. Morna Dabney, son père Hoab et son grand-père Big Sam sont bien décidés à rester neutre durant le conflit malgré les convictions opposées de Clay McIvor, officier sudiste fiancé à Morna. Toute la famille a rallié la population du comté pour former un état neutre, soutenu par le journaliste local, Keith Alexander. La guerre éclate. L’armée sudiste n’accepte pas la neutralité de Levington et avec Clay au commandement, les confédérés décident d’attaquer le comté...

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