The outrage for this film is ridiculous.

The film was shot
around 1930 and depicted life in the late 1800's, they were emphasising how some people were racist, and the main character was the opposite. Even the wife changed over the 40 years.

Like in the 90's they made Amistad, where unfortunate souls were tortured on slave ships. Doesn't mean they thought it was OK, they were showing how bad it was hundreds of years earlier.