Swanee River 1939

Swanee River is a 1940 American biopic about Stephen Foster, a songwriter from Pittsburgh who falls in love with the South, marries a Southern girl, then is accused of sympathizing when the Civil War breaks out. Typical of 20th Century Fox biopics of the time, the film is more fictional than factual biography.

Where to watch US

Not streaming in US right now.

On location

The cast

Don Ameche Stephen Foster

Andrea Leeds Jane McDowell Foster

Al Jolson Edwin P. Christy

Felix Bressart Henry Kleber

Chick Chandler Bones

Russell Hicks Andrew McDowell

D

Diane Fisher Marion Foster

George P. Breakston Ambrose

Nella Walker Mrs. McDowell

Mae Marsh Mrs. Jonathan Fry (uncredited)

George H. Reed Old Joe, McDowell's Coachman

Richard Clarke Tom Harper

A

Al Herman Tambo

Charles Trowbridge Mr. Foster

Top billing shown. Full cast and crew on IMDB ↗

More like this

1961

Too Late Blues

2004

Beyond the Sea

2012

Good Vibrations

2007

Honeydripper

2013

The Truth About Emanuel

2020

Clouds