What happens when a circus star falls in love with a Southern aristocrat during Mardi Gras? You get 1930’s Dixiana, a lavish RKO musical starring Bebe Daniels, Everett Marshall, and the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey. This early talkie blends romance, music, and antebellum spectacle, culminating in a Technicolor Mardi Gras finale.
🎭 The Story
Dixiana Caldwell, a circus performer, falls for Carl Van Horn, a Southern aristocrat. She leaves the circus and travels with Carl to his family’s plantation. Initially welcomed, Dixiana’s past is revealed, leading to scandal. She returns to New Orleans, working at a gambling hall run by the scheming Royal Montague. The story culminates with Dixiana being crowned Queen of Mardi Gras, outwitting Montague, and reuniting with Carl.
🎬 The Cast
- Bebe Daniels as Dixiana Caldwell – the charming circus performer
- Everett Marshall as Carl Van Horn – the aristocratic love interest
- Bert Wheeler as Peewee – comic relief and Dixiana’s friend
- Robert Woolsey as Ginger Dandy – Peewee’s comedic partner
- Joseph Cawthorn as Cornelius Van Horn – Carl’s father
- Jobyna Howland as Birdie Van Horn – Carl’s disapproving stepmother
- Dorothy Lee as Poppy – a dancer in the gambling hall
- Ralf Harolde as Royal Montague – the villainous gambler
- Bill “Bojangles” Robinson as Specialty Dancer – in his film debut
🎶 Music & Technicolor
Dixiana features songs by Harry Tierney and lyrics by Anne Caldwell and Benny Davis. The final 20 minutes are presented in two-strip Technicolor, showcasing a vibrant Mardi Gras sequence. This film also marks Max Steiner’s first screen credit for orchestration.
🎥 Production & Legacy
Directed by Luther Reed, Dixiana was RKO’s attempt to replicate the success of Rio Rita. Despite its lavish production, the film underperformed, leading to a loss of approximately $300,000. The Technicolor sequences were considered lost until rediscovered in 1988. The film entered the public domain in 1958.
🎦 Watch Dixiana on Oldies-TV
You can stream Dixiana (1930) in high quality, with no sign-up required, only at:
