Commentary
Many people want to fight injustice and rebel against tyranny, but they are afraid to do so. They want to fight for what they know is right, but they don’t know how to get started. Often, all they need is a leader to show them what to do and inspire them to join a cause.
Today’s moment of movie wisdom is from “New Moon” (1940). The scene in question takes place 58 minutes into this 105-minute film. During the French Revolution, a nobleman (Nelson Eddy) who has been shipped to Louisiana disguised as a common bondsman tries to inspire his fellow indentured servants to rise up and fight for the revolutionary cause which got them all deported. With an inspiring speech and a rousing song, he motivates them to take control of the ship in the harbor so they can sail away to freedom.
In the film, a young French noblewoman, Marianne de Beaumanoir (Jeannette MacDonald), and her frivolous aunt Valerie (Mary Boland) take a ship to the Louisiana colonies to claim Marianne’s familial property there. Also aboard the ship are revolutionaries who are being shipped to the colonies to be sold as bondsmen. Among them is Charles (Eddy), the Duc de Vidier in disguise as his own valet, who purposely got himself deported under an assumed identity because there is a price on his head. However, he plans to lead his fellow bondsmen to freedom. When he is waiting to speak to the captain one day about better conditions for the bondsmen, he meets Marianne in the captain’s cabin. Assuming he is an officer, she is charmed by him.
Marianne is very disappointed when she later learns that Charles is a common indentured servant after her majordomo buys him. At first, his presumed insolence annoys her to no end. However, he endears himself to her when he plans a Mardi Gras ball exactly as her mother did years ago. They find themselves falling in love, but Charles is in a very difficult situation. As long as he pretends to be a valet turned bondsman, his rank is far below Marianne’s. If he reveals his true identity, he will risk the guillotine. Besides that, Marianne has developed disdain for the Duc de Vidier, who she thinks was Charles’s employer, because of rumors about his romantic adventures.
Photo of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy from the 1940 film "New Moon." (Public Domain)
The Scene
After Marianne’s Mardi Gras ball, Charles receives word that the New Moon, the ship from France for which the rebel bondsmen have been waiting, has docked in the port. However, instead of being manned by fellow revolutionaries, it has brought the inspector of police (George Zucco) and marines to foil the dissidents’ plan. Charles and his closest comrades ride to the stockades, release the men imprisoned there, and gather them at the whipping post. There, Charles tells them what has happened with the New Moon but says that they still have a chance for freedom. If they attack the ship while the marines are patrolling on shore, they can wrest control of it away from the few men aboard. The men protest that he is crazy.
Charles argues that there are few men aboard the ship. “We’re strong enough if brave enough to take it back. Who’s with me?” When he receives no response but shouts of “Not me,” he argues, “Friends, what have we to lose but a life of starvation and servitude?” When a man declares that taking the ship would be piracy, Charles insists, “It’s our own ship we’re taking back!” Another man yells, “The marines will shoot us down like animals!” Charles simply replies, “Would you rather live like animals?” Someone else shouts, “Without guns, we haven’t a chance.” “We have a chance!” Charles replies. He calls out the men in the crowd who have nautical experience, concluding, “There’s enough seamen amongst us to sail a ship to the end of the earth! Friends, will you come with me and show the king’s marines how the king’s rebels can fight?”
This rousing speech isn’t enough to convince the doubters, so Charles declares that he’ll go alone. One of his friends says he’ll join him, and a few others quickly follow. With an army of ten, they set out for the harbor, and the other men are inspired by their bravery to follow.
Lobby card for "New Moon," starring Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy. (MovieStillsDB)
Its Significance
“New Moon” is a musical, based on the operetta of the same name by Sigmund Romberg. While the story is quite different, many of the stage production’s best songs were included in the movie. This scene is one of Nelson Eddy’s finest moments in the film. He delivers a dramatic acting performance as he urges the men to abandon their fears and fight for freedom, since it’s their only chance to avoid a miserable life of slavery.
Charles words don’t succeed in convincing the majority of the men, but he and his nine loyal followers bravely march through the swamps toward the New Moon anyway. He boldly sings “Stout-Hearted Men,” one of the finest songs in the score, as he leads his men. The rousing strains and motivating words inspire the rest of the men to join the fight and, one by one, they run after Charles and his men to join them. Pretty soon, they all are marching toward the harbor, singing along as a proud chorus:
“Give me some men who are stout-hearted men,
Who will fight for the right they adore,
Start me with ten who are stout-hearted men,
And I'll soon give you ten thousand more.
Shoulder to shoulder, and bolder and bolder
They grow as they go to the fore.
Then there’s nothing in the world
Can halt or mar a plan,
When stout-hearted men
Can stick together, man to man.
“You who have dreams,
If you act, they will come true.
To turn your dreams to a fact,
It’s up to you.
If you have the soul and the spirit,
Never fear it; you'll see it through.
Hearts can inspire
Other hearts with their fire,
For the strong obey
When a strong man shows them the way!”
“Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States,” 1940, by Howard Chandler Christy. United States Capitol. (Public Domain)
The Fight for Freedom
Charles isn’t a common man who had to slave under the French monarchy. He himself was a duke, a privileged aristocrat who lacked nothing under the royal system. However, he believes in liberty and equality for all men, so he gives up his comfortable position and risks his life to fight for the cause of the French Revolution.
From a historical standpoint, it’s undeniable that the French Revolution was a violent business with unfortunate results. However, we can’t forget that French revolutionaries were inspired by the recent American Revolution in their fight for “liberty, equality, fraternity.” Since “New Moon” is an American movie, these revolutionaries seem more like the American patriots who fought in the American revolution.
This scene is a very inspiring reminder that freedom can be reclaimed by strong men who will fight for what is right.
