Under Southern Stars: A Technicolor History Lesson

Is it worth your time?

If you have a weird itch to see 1930s Hollywood’s idea of 1863, sure. It’s short, bright, and moves along fast enough that you don't get bored. If you want actual nuance or a story that doesn't feel like a high school pageant, skip it. History buffs will probably roll their eyes at the dramatization, and everyone else might just wonder why everything is so saturated.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed inside a very expensive, very tidy living room. There’s no grit. There’s no mud. You’re telling me this is the night before a massive battle and everyone’s uniforms look like they were pressed five minutes ago? Come on.

Fritz Leiber plays Jackson and he does that thing where he stares off into the distance to show he’s thinking about destiny. It works for a minute, but then he just keeps doing it. It’s a lot of brooding in a room that looks like it belongs in a different century entirely.

The lighting is pure 1930s studio magic. Everything glows. It’s like the characters are constantly standing in front of a magical fireplace that provides perfect light for their faces but no actual heat. You can almost see the studio floor markers if you squint hard enough.

Bits and pieces

• The colors are so bright they almost hurt your eyes. It’s like watching a postcard come to life.
• The dialogue is stiff. Like, "wooden fence" stiff.
• There’s a strange lack of tension, which is odd given the subject matter.
• It feels miles away from the grit you'd find in something like Below the Rio Grande.

It’s not a bad watch, really. Just don't go in expecting some grand epic. It’s more of a snapshot. A weird, slightly fake-looking snapshot, but a snapshot nonetheless.

I found myself wondering if they ran out of budget for extras. There are scenes that feel like they should be crowded with soldiers, but instead, it’s just three guys standing around a table. It makes the war feel very small. Maybe that was the point? Probably not.

The whole experience reminded me a bit of the stuffy, overly earnest vibe in Birth of Democracy. It’s trying very hard to be important. It doesn't quite get there, but at least it isn't boring.