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As a film, Way Down South is negligible, but it is worth watching for one reason unrelated to its dramatic effectiveness, namely the fact that it was scripted in 1939 by Clarence Muse and Langston Hughes, two men of color. It would be delightful to report that South is recognizably the work of African-Americans, that it revealed an enlightened treatment of black characters, but that's not the case. Undoubtedly, there was only so much leeway that black writers could expect at this point in time; still, it's depressing that these two men, and especially the uniquely talented Hughes, were not allowed to create a piece of work that more honestly captured the black experience either in 1939 or in the antebellum South. The racist issues aside, South's plot is fairly uninteresting, and the dialogue and characterizations are at best routine. Also problematic is the fact that this is a Bobby Breen musical, and while Breen possesses a pleasing voice, he is undistinguished at best as an actor. The musical sequences work best, not just because they allow Breen a chance to shine but even more because they feature the glorious work of the Hall Johnson Choir.