Swanee River

The Story of Stephen C. Foster - The Great American Troubadour

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.

Drama Music Thriller

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)

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)

Al Herman

(Tambo)

Charles Trowbridge

(Mr. Foster)

George Meeker

(Henry Foster)

Leona Roberts

(Mrs. Foster)

Charles Tannen

(Morrison Foster)

Clara Blandick

(Mrs. Griffin)

Harry Hayden

(Erwin)

Esther Dale

(Temperance Woman)

Herbert Ashley

(Detective)

Matthew Beard

(Negro Boy)

Georgie Billings

(Office Boy)

James Blaine

(Bartender)

Georgia Caine

(Ann Rowan)

Les Clark

(Specialty)

Dora Clement

(Nurse)

Ruth Clifford

(Bit Role)

Hal K. Dawson

(Drunken Man on Riverboat)

Dorothy Dearing

(Bit Role)

Harry Denny

(Guest)

Harry Depp

(Dresser)

Claire Du Brey

(Woman in Cafe)

Edward Earle

(Master of Ceremonies)

Jesse Graves

(Butler)

Kay Griffith

(Bit Role)

Charles Halton

(Pond)

John Hamilton

(Doctor)

Eleanor Hansen

(Bit Role)

Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian

(Agitator)

Tommy Hicks

(Fat Boy)

Robert Homans

(Sheriff)

Jean Houghton

(Guest)

Selmer Jackson

(Army Medical Examiner)

Gladden James

(Hotel Clerk)

Thaddeus Jones

(Dan)

Robert Emmett Keane

(Drunken Agitator)

Wright Kramer

(Doctor)

Edward LeSaint

(Jonathan Fry, Justice of the Peace)

George Magrill

(Agitator)

Bruce Mitchell

(Jailer)

Bert Moorhouse

(Attendant)

James C. Morton

(Bartender)

Daisy Lee Mothershed

(Maid)

Forbes Murray

(Critic)

David Newell

(Guest)

William Newell

(Bill, Stagehand)

George O'Hanlon

(Ticket Taker)

Arthur Rankin

(Clerk)

Herbert Rawlinson

(Army Officer)

Tom Seidel

(Bellboy)

Larry Steers

(Man on Riverboat)

Harry Strang

(Boat Captain)

Harry Tenbrook

(Jim, Saloon Waiter)

Harry Tyler

(Pianist)

Bruce Warren

(Orchestra Leader)

Billy Wayne

(Agitator)

Cecil Weston

(Landlady)

Lloyd Whitlock

(Critic)