Band of Angels is an interesting movie that is let down by how "clean" it is. It's an intriguing portrait of the South during the Civil War era but it doesn't push the envelope far enough. Clark Gable's character is the best part of the movie. Well the character himself by the time we meet him isn't that interesting but its his past atrocities that he reveals through speeches that make him compelling. It's hard to find redemption for a person that was as brutal as he was towards slaves and the movie makes that redemption feel unearned. It is still commendable that they gave this character a very dark past, especially when he is meant to be the person we root for heavily in the film. In an ideal world, Clark Gable would've played a full-on mean bastard in this movie. Instead of the southern gentleman, he could've been portrayed as a ruthless slave owner with some hints of humanity. In that scenario, this movie would've been talked about a lot more to this day and we could've gotten the best role of Gable's career but I'm sure neither he nor the studio would've been willing to go that far. An anti Gone with the Wind would've been too much risk for that era of filmmaking and it's unfortunate.
In general, for everything interesting the movie does, it then follows it up with generic melodrama. Yvonne De Carlo is ridiculous in a role where she is meant to be partially black but I've seen Audrey Hepburn play a Kiowa so I can suspend my disbelief. However, her experiences as a slave are much too easy. There is a threat of harm coming to her but she quickly gets bought by Clark Gable and falls in love with him within a couple of days. I know it's a ridiculous romantic drama and all the movie goers at the time probably just wanted to see her and Gable kiss and live happily, ever after but I can't help but see the potential that was there. If her experience was much more gruelling, it would've truly elevated the film. Still, her story is quite interesting and the way she gets treated when her lineage is discovered is portrayed effectively. Overall, it's not a bad movie but it had potential to be much, much more.
In general, for everything interesting the movie does, it then follows it up with generic melodrama. Yvonne De Carlo is ridiculous in a role where she is meant to be partially black but I've seen Audrey Hepburn play a Kiowa so I can suspend my disbelief. However, her experiences as a slave are much too easy. There is a threat of harm coming to her but she quickly gets bought by Clark Gable and falls in love with him within a couple of days. I know it's a ridiculous romantic drama and all the movie goers at the time probably just wanted to see her and Gable kiss and live happily, ever after but I can't help but see the potential that was there. If her experience was much more gruelling, it would've truly elevated the film. Still, her story is quite interesting and the way she gets treated when her lineage is discovered is portrayed effectively. Overall, it's not a bad movie but it had potential to be much, much more.