Uncle Tom's Cabin
[1928 general release version]
1
"There are few, I believe, in
this enlightened age who
will not acknowledge that
slavery as an institution is
a moral and political evil."
Robert E. Lee
Dec. 27, 1856
2
In the year of our
Lord, 1856.
3
The Kentucky home of the
Shelbys -- an honored
name in the South since
Revolutionary days.
4
"What an original idea, Mrs.
Shelby -- making a social
event of the wedding of
slaves."
5
"We raised Eliza from a baby
-- she couldn't have had a
better education or training if
she had been our daughter."
6
"Salome -- where are
the children?"
7
"Dunno whar dey is,
Missy 'Liza."
8 [animated text]
"BOO!"
9 [animated text]
"LIZA'S GOIN' TO GIT MARRIED!
LIZA'S GOIN' TO GIT MARRIED!"
10
Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, whose
gentle rule of the slaves
was typical of the South.
11
"Mr. Shelby is going to tell
George to get ready for the
wedding -- so you'd better
hurry, Eliza."
12 [animated text]
"LIZA'S GOIN' TO GIT MARRIED!
LIZA'S GOIN' TO GIT MARRIED!"
13
George Harris, the bride-
groom -- a slave 'rented'
to Mr. Shelby by the month.
14
"You've done enough work
for today, George -- better
get ready for your
wedding."
15
Tom Haley -- a man
of business.
16
"Shelby, I hope you're not
forgetting, one of your notes
is due today."
17
"I sent Uncle Tom to
Cincinnati for the
money."
18
"-- you sent a slave into a
free state for money -- and
you think he's coming
back?"
19
"Land's sake! Dey's gettin'
married jes' like white
folks --"
20
"-- almost."
21
"-- dey is white folks --"
22
"-- almost."
23
Moonlight bathing the old
Kentucky home in
radiance -- romance in
the winged and perfumed
breezes of the night.
24
Uncle Tom. For three
generations his ances-
tors had been contented
servitors in the Shelby
family.
25
Uncle Tom's cabin.
26
Edward Harris, owner of
the body and brain of
George Harris.
27
"I came to get my slave."
28
"-- and when Mr. Shelby
buys my freedom, I'll buy
yours, Eliza."
29
"What do you mean -- get-
tin' married without my
consent?"
30
"I've done nothing to
be ashamed of, sir."
31
"Call me Master!"
32
"Please, Mr. Harris -- don't
be so cruel! Can't you respect
their love?"
33
"Love -- what do they
know about love?"
34
"Mr. Harris, we want to
buy George -- what is
your price?"
35
"-- he ain't for sale!"
36
The years brought harsher
bondage to George, but
were blessed by the love of a
baby boy --
37
During the years that
passed, Haley had
'Helped' Shelby with many
loans on a basis - strictly
business.
38
"I couldn't think of parting
with Uncle Tom -- he's like
one of the family."
39
"Well, you haven't got the
money - and a Shelby always
pays his bills!"
40
"George -- you're running
away from your Master!"
41
"What has he done
now, George?"
42
"He is forcing me to
marry one of his slaves --
tonight!"
43
"Hello, Jim Crow!"
44
"-- how about a little
dance?"
45
"Once I get to Canada, Eliza,
I'll earn your freedom and
Harry's."
46
"Well -- do I get Tom?"
47
"You've got me, Haley, where
I can't refuse -- Uncle Tom
is yours."
48
"Of course, you realize, even
Tom doesn't cover your
note --"
49
"But that's a small
matter --"
50
"- and George, promise you'll
buy Harry's freedom first.
He's so bright - so beautiful
-- I'm afraid --"
51
"Don't worry, dearest -- Mr.
Shelby would never sell
our Harry."
52
"Throw in little Jim Crow
with Tom, and I'll cancel
the note."
53
"Shelby, I'd hate to foreclose
you -- on account of your
wife, but --"
54
"Speak up, Shelby --
yes or no!"
55
"I have no choice -- Tom
and Harry are yours."
56
"I -- I was looking for
my baby, sir."
57
But no echo of sadness
reached Uncle Tom's
cabin.
58
"We's got a lot to be
thankful for --"
59
"De Lord's been mighty
good to us."
60
"Tom -- Mr. Shelby has
sold my baby!"
61
"And he's sold
you, too."
62
"Tom, you must go
with me!"
63
"My duty is here, chile -- go,
and God bless you."
64
"Mighty funny to me -- I
buy the boy and then he
disappears!"
65
"My man, George, has run
away -- the dogs have
tracked him here!"
66
"I'll bet he's run away with
Eliza and her boy!"
67
"My bloodhounds are out-
side, Haley --
come on!"
68
"I hope they never
catch them."
69
"No human can cross that
river tonight and the dogs
can't track in this storm. Let's
warm up at the Inn."
70
"We're looking for George
Harris, a yellow boy, and a
light girl with her baby."
71
"I'm a lawyer, and my
name is Marks."
72
"Well -- did you
see them?"
73
"I'm a lawyer, and my
name is Marks."
74
"I know you and your
business of catching run-
aways. Have you seen
'em?"
75
"A hundred dollars
for the kid."
76
"And how much for
the girl?"
77
"Nothing -- she belongs
to Shelby."
78
"We'll let them have the kid,
but we'll sell the mother
down the river."
79
Phineas Fletcher, on the
North shore of the river -
a Quaker in a free state.
80
"This way quick -- the
falls are just below!"
81
Though in a free state, Eliza
was subject to the Dred
Scott decision -- a slave could
be taken wherever found.
82
"Thy husband has crossed
the river, too! He'll start for
Canada with thee --
after dark."
83
"She's in there, Loker! We'll
grab 'em both and take 'em
down the river."
84
"Get her, Officer, before
she escapes again."
85
Uncle Tom, caught in the
black and hopeless stream
of human souls -- destined
down the river.
86
Down the river.
87
Augustine St. Clare, of
New Orleans.
88
Miss Ophelia, his cousin
from Vermont.
89
"How shiftless!"
90
"Land o' Goshen, Eva!
What are you up to
now?"
91
"I always take goodies to the
negroes -- downstairs."
92
"Did you make it all
yourself?"
93
"I's made hundreds of dem
fo' my children, back in
Kaintucky."
94
Always haunting the river
boats, risking capture and
punishment -- searching for
his wife and baby.
95
"Well, if it ain't George
Harris -- the runaway."
96
"Guess I'll send you back to
your master --"
97
Stolen by Marks and
Loker -- chained to
their string of human
freight, Eliza and Harry
await shipment -- down
the river.
98
"Once the girl and the baby
are on the boat, who can
tell them from the slaves
we bought."
99
"Uncle Tom, I'm going to
ask Papa to buy you."
100
"Haley's aboard! If you want
to keep your kid -- lay low."
101
"Do you think you'll be happy
with your little mistress?"
102
Lemuel Proctor --
plantation owner.
103
"I'll give you three hundred
dollars for the boy."
104
"Four hundred -- and not
a cent more."
105
"I take my slaves off at the
next landing. Get the boy
ready."
106
"Now you're goin' for a nice,
long walk."
107
"Mama! Mama!"
108
"A house divided against itself
cannot stand. I do not believe that
this Government can permanently
endure, half slave and half free."
109
Friday, April 12, 1861
- - Fort Sumter
is fired upon.
110
The St. Clare home in
New Orleans.
111
Little Eva's spirit touched
the life of Uncle Tom,
like a sunbeam in a darkened
room.
112
"-- That means you can go
home to your wife and
babies!"
113
"TOPSY!"
114
"Yes, Miss Feely --"
115
"Topsy, where are you?"
116
"Heah I is, Miss Feely."
117
"What are you doing?"
118
"I is pickin' flowers."
119
"Don't you know you mustn't
pick them?"
120
"But I's pickin' dem for
Missy Eva."
121
"Very well, take them to her,
and then come to me."
122
"Topsy!"
123 [animated text]
"Topsee!"
124
"I think Miss Feely
wants me."
125
"Golly! How did dat ribbon
get up mah sleeve?"
126
"Topsy, don't you know it's
wicked to steal?"
127
"I nebber seen dat ribbon till
dis blessed minute!"
128
"-- I nebber seen dem
gloves befo'!"
129
"Well, Miss Feely -- maybe I
did take dem gloves --"
130
"-- but I nebber did see dat
ribbon befo'!"
131
"What am I going to do
with you?"
132
"'Specs you'd better whip
me --"
133
"Please, Aunt Ophelia, let me
talk to Topsy."
134
"It's jes' pos'ble I did take
dem gloves --"
135
"-- but I nebber did see
dat ribbon befo'."
136
"Topsy, what makes you
so bad?"
137
"'Specs it's 'cause I is
so wicked."
138
"-- if you'd only try to
be good!"
139
"Oh Topsy -- I love you."
140
"Don't cry, Topsy."
141
"I ain't cryin' -- it's jes' my
weak eyes."
142
"Topsy, won't you be good?
I don't think I'll be with
you long."
143
"Oh, Missy Eva, please --
please don't say dat!"
144
"I'll try to be good,
Missy Eva."
145
But the light that touched
the St. Clare home like
a benediction, had slowly
faded --
146
"I -- I brung her a
flower --"
147
"-- such a pretty one --"
148
"Oh, Missy Eva -- I wish I
wuz dead, too."
149
"She said - she loved me."
150
"Now, there ain't nobody to
love me, no mo'."
151
"I -- I will love you,
Topsy."
152
Augustine St. Clare did
not long survive his
daughter -- and his entire
estate came under the auc-
tioneer's hammer.
153
Simon Legree, who had
come from the North, bore
an evil reputation for cruelty
to his slaves.
154
"Sold -- to Simon Legree."
155
"Fifteen hundred dollars!"
156
"Sold -- to Simon Legree."
157
Across two states - George
Harris, ever on the trail
of Lemuel Proctor, the buyer
of little Harry.
158
"Is there a man named
Proctor living in this town?"
159
Simon Legree's plantation.
160
"I wouldn't hurt you, Honey -
I wouldn't hurt anything."
161
Cassy -- for twenty years
enslaved to Legree - her
life saddened by memories of
the baby that had been torn
from her breast, long ago.
162
"Jealous, eh -- Cassy?"
163
"You flatter yourself,
Simon."
164
"What do you mean --
comin' in here when I'm
busy?"
165
"-- nobody is going to rob
me of my place in this
household!"
166
"I've got a good mind to send
you to the slave quarters --
where you belong!"
167
"You don't dare! You're
afraid of me."
168
Sambo and Quimbo --
darkened souls in bru-
talized bodies.
169
"Dis nigger's been makin'
trubble 'mong de hands --
preachin' an' a-prayin'!"
170
"I'll do all the prayin'
around here!"
171
"Whip her!"
172
"No, Massa -- I can't
do it, nohow."
173
"Didn't I pay twelve hundred
dollars for you -- ain't you
mine, body and soul?"
174
"No, Massa! My body may
belong to you, but my soul
belongs to God."
175
"Give him the worst
floggin' he ever had!"
176
And the marching feet
of the liberating host
thundered nearer -- ever
nearer --
177
Terror spread before
them --
178
And the song they sang
was a new song of
bondage broken and chains
forever lifted --
179
While Legree, brute ruler of
his realm, only ten miles
distant from the flood of blue,
held high carnival --
180
"You am a ministerin'
angel, Missy --"
181
"Don't call me Missy -- I'm
a slave, too -- he owns me
body and soul."
182
"Oh, Missy -- don't be
so bitter."
183
"Bitter? They kept me igno-
rant of my heritage of blood,
while I learned to be a lady -
a white lady."
184
"Then they sold my baby to
a man named Shelby, and
they sold me -- down the
river."
185
"And all these weary years,
that baby's voice has been
calling, Mama - Mama!"
186
"Why, Missy -- that's
"Liza's story.""
187
"Eliza?"
188
"Massa Shelby was my
Massa, too. But we wuz sold
down de river -- Legree
bought us both --"
189
"That means my child
Eliza -- is here!"
190
"You will steal my man,
will you?"
191
"Make 'em jealous --
that's the way!"
192
"Lord God Almighty, child
- I'm your mother!"
193
"They tore you from my
arms to sell you up the
river, and me -- to hell!"
194
"Mother!"
195
"My baby!"
196
"He thinks the ghosts of his
murdered victims haunt the
attic. We'll be safe there!"
197
"Where are them women?"
198
"I can't say, Massa."
199
Over dusty roads they
spread, ever closer to
the Legree plantation.
200
"Bring Tom here. I'll find
out where they are!"
201
"Massa -- it's dem ghosts
in the attic ag'in!"
202
"Tom, I've made up my
mind to kill you --"
203
"-- unless you tell me where
them women are!"
204
"We'll make him tell!"
205
"They're beating
Uncle Tom --"
206
"He's done fo',
Massa!"
207
"Take him out!"
208
"I forgive you -- as I
hope to be forgiven."
209
"Sambo! Quimbo!"
210
"He's in the attic!
Drive him out!"
211
"Well -- if here ain't our
two ghosts!"
212
"See the Captain --
-- up front."
The End
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