Watch A Southern Yankee

A Southern Yankee is a classic slapstick comedy from 1948 starring the legendary Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, and Arlene Dahl. Directed by Edward Sedgwick, the movie follows the antics of a bumbling bellhop from a hotel in Indiana who finds himself accidentally enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Red Skelton's character, Aubrey Filmore, is a hapless handyman who wants nothing more than to become a hotel detective. However, his plans are derailed when he is mistaken for a spy and sent to the front lines by a group of Confederate soldiers. Despite his best attempts to explain his true identity, he is forced to go along with the mistake to avoid getting shot.

Once Filmore is in the army, he quickly finds himself in over his head. Between his utter incompetence in basic training and his inability to fit in with his Southern comrades, Filmore is constantly the butt of the joke. However, he is determined to somehow make it through the war and back home to his job at the hotel.

As he fumbles his way through battles and schemes, Filmore eventually becomes embroiled in a secret mission to steal a Union cannon. With the help of a Union spy and a team of ragtag soldiers, Filmore sets out to complete the mission and save the day.

Throughout the movie, Red Skelton's signature physical comedy is on full display. From his bumbling attempts at military training to his iconic facial expressions, he brings his trademark silliness to every scene. Brian Donlevy and Arlene Dahl provide strong support as the Confederate and Union agents respectively, playing off of Skelton's manic energy with their own dry wit.

The movie's setting in the Civil War era provides ample opportunity for humor and satire, with many scenes poking fun at the stereotypes and conventions of the time period. However, the film also manages to balance its humor with genuine moments of heart and character development.

A Southern Yankee may not be the most historically accurate or politically correct portrayal of the Civil War era, but it remains a timeless classic of American comedy. With its energetic and endearing performances, zany antics, and clever writing, this movie is sure to leave audiences laughing and entertained.

A Southern Yankee is a 1948 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.