Directed by R. John Hugh, Yellowneck is a gritty, atmospheric Civil War survival drama that follows five Confederate deserters as they attempt to escape through the treacherous Florida Everglades. Released by Republic Pictures and shot in Trucolor, the film offers a rare, swamp-bound take on wartime morality and psychological unraveling.
Plot Summary
Set in 1863, the story centers on four Confederate deserters—Sergeant Todd, Plunkett, Cockney, and The Kid—who are joined by a mysterious Colonel with a plan to reach the coast and flee to Cuba. As they journey through the Everglades, they face deadly wildlife, hostile Seminole warriors, and the unraveling of their own sanity.
Each man carries emotional baggage:
- Plunkett has stolen Confederate gold
- Cockney is paralyzed by fear of snakes
- The Colonel is haunted by a drunken command that led to slaughter at Murfreesboro
- The Kid seeks redemption through compassion
Their trek becomes a slow descent into madness, betrayal, and death—culminating in a tragic final stretch where survival comes at a steep cost.
Cast Highlights
- Lin McCarthy as Sergeant Todd
- Stephen Courtleigh as The Colonel
- Berry Kroeger as Plunkett
- Harold Gordon as Cockney
- Bill Mason as The Kid
- Al Tamez, Jose Billie, and Roy Nash as Seminole warriors
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The term “Yellowneck” was Confederate slang for a deserter, giving the film its title
- The film’s forage caps were authentic 1862 patterns, with color-coded branches: red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry
- The Colonel’s final soliloquy references the Battle of Stones River, a real Civil War conflict in Tennessee
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