Way Down South
Synopsis
In the pre-Civil War South, a plantation owner dies and leaves all his possessions, including his slaves, to his young son. While the deceased treated his slaves decently, his corrupt executor abuses them unmercifully, beating them without provocation, and he is planning to sell off the father'e estate--including the slaves--at the earliest opportunity so he and his mistress can steal the money and move to France. The young boy doesn't want to sell his father's estate or break up an of the slave families, and he has to find someone to help him thwart the crooked executor's plans.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Bobby Breen
Timothy Reed Jr.
Alan Mowbray
Jacques Bouton
Ralph Morgan
Timothy Reed Sr.
Steffi Duna
Pauline Dubini
Clarence Muse
Uncle Caton
Sally Blane
Claire Bouton
Edwin Maxwell
Martin Dill
Charles Middleton
Cass
Robert Greig
Judge Ravenal
Lillian Yarbo
Janie
Matthew Beard
Gumbo
Willie Best
Chimney Sweep
Stanley Blystone
Slave Auctioneer
Mildred Boyd
Dancing Slave
Don Brodie
Slave Buyer
Jack Carr
Luke
Ed Cassidy
Slave Trader
Jack Clisby
Servant
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 21, 1939
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bernard Vorhaus, Leslie Goodwins
- Screenplay & Story
- Langston Hughes, Clarence Muse
- Original Score
- Victor Young
- Original Title
- Way Down South
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 1m
- Production Studios
- Sol Lesser Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bernard Vorhaus, Leslie Goodwins
Langston Hughes, Clarence Muse
Victor Young
Department Leadership Roster
Bernard Vorhaus
Director
Langston Hughes
Writer
Leslie Goodwins
Director
Clarence Muse
Writer
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Way Down South.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Way Down South.
MovieLens[30K:40K]
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Oscar Best Score Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Score Nominees
Seasonal: Oscar Season Picks
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
Seasonal: Oscar Season Picks
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
Seasonal: Oscar Season Picks
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
Similar Titles to Way Down South
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.6
6.0
6.3
6.3
7.3
6.1
6.6
4.8
7.3
5.7
7.6
5.7
6.5
7.4
6.9
7.6
5.6
6.6
5.3
More Like Way Down South
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Way Down South
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Way Down South about?
In the pre-Civil War South, a plantation owner dies and leaves all his possessions, including his slaves, to his young son. While the deceased treated his slaves decently, his corrupt executor abuses them unmercifully, beating them without provocation, and he is planning to sell off the father'e estate--including the slaves--at the earliest opportunity so he and his mistress can steal the money and move to France. The young boy doesn't want to sell his father's estate or break up an of the slave families, and he has to find someone to help him thwart the crooked executor's plans.
Who directed Way Down South?
Way Down South was directed by Bernard Vorhaus, Leslie Goodwins.
Who stars in Way Down South?
The principal cast of Way Down South includes Bobby Breen, Alan Mowbray, Ralph Morgan, Steffi Duna, Clarence Muse.
When was Way Down South released and how long is it?
Way Down South was released in 1939 with a total runtime of 1h 1m.
Who composed the musical score for Way Down South?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Way Down South was composed by Victor Young.