Main Cast: Nelson Eddy, Virginia Bruce, Victor McLaglen, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold
Release Year: 1939
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
Originally filmed in Sepiatone, Let Freedom Ring is a satisfying Nelson Eddy musical with patriotic overtones. Set in the years following the Civil War, the story focuses on the battle of wills between Harvard-educated idealist Steve Logan (Eddy) and bullying railroad magnate Jim Knox (Edward Arnold). Launching a newspaper aimed at combatting Knox's engulf-and-devour tactics (could the villain be intended as a frontier Hitler?) Logan is disowned by his wealthy family and frozen out by his society friends. But with the help of woman-of-the-people Maggie Adams (Virginia Bruce), Logan sticks to his guns and perserveres. Let Freedom Ring goes out of its way to erase Eddy's "Singing Capon" image by having him engage in as much virile physical activity as possible, including a well-staged fistic bout with the gargantuan Victor McLaglen. Fey comedy relief is provided by Charles Butterworth, who does the most with the least material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Nelson Eddy without Jeanette MacDonald can be an "iffy" proposition (as can Eddy with MacDonald sometimes), but Let Freedom Ring is one of the sturdy baritone's finer efforts. Modern audience will undoubtedly find the story to be a bit too naïve and brainlessly patriotic, with a belief in the innate goodness and morality of the masses that is perhaps a trifle too optimistic. Yet even as Freedom pounds home its messages, Ben Hecht manages to craft a number of speeches that are genuinely stirring and quite effective, even to jaded viewers. As for Eddy, he's much better than might be expected. Vocally, of course, he's excellent, in beautiful voice and using that beautiful instrument in song after song to very good effect. His dramatic performance is not as expert as one might wish, but it's also better than one might hope, and his big fight scene with Victor McLaglen proves he could be as genuinely "manly" (as opposed to woodenly manly) as one might wish. His appointed paramour, Virginia Bruce, is lovely to look at, if rather lifeless, but her lack of presence is more than made up for by the contributions of a solid supporting cast that includes the aforementioned McLaglen, as well as Edward Arnold (reliably villainous), Lionel Barrymore and Charles Butterworth. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Daniel B. Cathcart - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Dolly Tree - Costume Designer, Irene Valles - Costume Designer, Jack Conway - Director, Frederick Y. Smith - Editor, Art Lange - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sidney Wagner - Cinematographer, Harry Rapf - Producer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, Ben Hecht - Screenwriter
