So Red the Rose

So Red the Rose

Year: 1935

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: King Vidor

Drama

Set against the tumult of the American Civil War, Valette Bedford anxiously awaits the return of her husband, Duncan, praying she will not be left a widow. Their love burns like the South’s fiercest fire, driving a passionate romance through the era’s hardships.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – So Red the Rose (1935)

Trace every key event in So Red the Rose (1935) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

War fever disrupts Portobello life

War fever interrupts the Bedford family's peaceful life at Portobello. Valette is in love with Duncan, who initially refuses to enlist, clinging to his principles. The looming conflict makes clear that every Bedford man will eventually be drawn into the war.

1861 Portobello plantation
2

Edward enlists after a friend's death

A family friend dies in battle, convincing Edward to enlist in the Confederate cause. This decision marks the first major step of the Bedfords into the war. The moment foreshadows the personal losses to come.

1861 Portobello plantation
3

Malcolm joins the Confederacy

That night, Union troops wake Malcolm and press him to serve as their guide, wounding his pride in the process. He reluctantly agrees to join the Confederate Army. His decision underscores the widening rift within the family as war consumes them.

1861-1862 Portobello
4

Sallie foresees tragedy

Sallie has a vision of her son dead on a battlefield, a foreboding glimpse of the losses ahead. The vision unsettles the family and deepens the sense that war will take its toll. Duncan, Sallie, and their loyal servant William Veal set out toward the front lines.

1862 Portobello
5

Family goes to the battle site

Sallie, Duncan, and William drive toward the Confederate battle site, hoping to find Edward alive. They travel through a landscape scarred by war, clinging to the hope that their loved one survives. The journey foreshadows the danger and heartbreak to come.

1862 Battlefield
6

Edward is found slain

The search ends with the grim discovery that Edward has fallen on the battlefield. The sight deeply moves Duncan and leaves him more determined to fight. The family confronts a brutal reality that war takes loved ones.

1862 Battlefield
7

Cato's rebellion and Valette's intervention

Back at Portobello, Cato leads a revolt among the farm hands who dream of leisure under Union rule. William attempts to stop the uprising, but Valette intervenes, reminding them of her childhood kindness and pleading for mercy. The revolt subsides and the workers return to the fields.

During war Portobello plantation
8

Malcolm dies; slaves are freed

Malcolm returns home wounded after a skirmish and the slaves gather to pay respects as he dies from his injuries. Sallie proclaims the slaves free, explaining that their master no longer needs their labor. The moment marks a turning point in the plantation’s social order.

Late war Portobello
9

Union threat and Confederate response

Two Union soldiers arrive at Portobello and threaten the Bedford women. Confederate cavalry respond by killing one soldier and wounding the other, plunging the family into a fresh peril. Valette struggles to protect those she loves amid the violence.

Late war Portobello
10

Valette hides a wounded Union boy

Valette hides a wounded Union boy, presenting him as her brother to spare him capture. In the confusion, she learns that one of the Confederate soldiers is Duncan, now hardened by war. The revelation casts a new shadow over her protectiveness.

Late war Portobello
11

Duncan is captured; Portobello burns

More Confederate soldiers arrive, and Duncan is captured as Portobello is burned. The wounded boy is found dead the following morning, a stark symbol of how the war has ravaged their lives. Valette faces the cost of choosing mercy in a brutal conflict.

Late war Portobello
12

End of war and survival at the outbuilding

With Portobello destroyed, the remaining Bedfords and the loyal William take shelter in an outbuilding and cook over an open fire. They endure the war’s fallout together, clinging to each other for survival. The scene emphasizes resilience born of hardship.

End of Civil War Portobello outskirts / outbuilding
13

Duncan returns and reunites with Valette

Duncan finally returns from the war, older and wiser from the tragedies he endured. He and Valette share a tearful reunion, their years apart shaped by loss and sacrifice. The couple faces a sober, weathered future together.

End of Civil War Portobello

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:52

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Characters, Settings & Themes in So Red the Rose

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