His later film body and soul, starring paul robeson, had four of the nine reels cut by authorities. Were about to find out as robeson signed on to make a film with pioneering africanamerican producerdirectorwriter oscar micheaux. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. How oscar micheaux defied hollywood to make the first allblack feature film. The film was not any too pleasing to those of us who desire the better side of. As an example of very early africanamerican filmmaking and of one kind of race picture created solely for the africanamerican audience, and as the cinematic debut of the powerful american actor and singer paul robeson, body is invaluable for those with an interest in the cinemas background and. Oscar micheaux s body and soul and the burden of representation by pearl bowser and louise spence this essay explores oscar micheaux s silent drama body and soul 1925 and some of the critical discourses of the period. He consorts with, and later extorts from, the owner of a gambling house, and betrays an honest girl, eventually driving them both to ruin. It also addresses the politics of racial identity and the quest for racial unity in a period when the class structure within the. An escaped convict paul robesonits a silent film so unfortunately robeson the magnificent basso profundo doesnt sing has made his way to a small town in georgia, where he is impersonating a protestant.
On u filmu tumaci dvostruku ulogu brace blizanaca, od kojih je jedan odbjegli kriminalac koji glumi svecenika, a drugi siromasan ali cestit. Directed by the pioneering oscar micheaux 18841951 and rarely shown, the film features paul robeson 18981976 in his motionpicture debut. Body and soul oscar micheaux, 1925 counter programming. The copy of body and soul available today has the jazz film score by wycliffe gordon added to it in 2000. Body and soul by oscar micheaux, 1925 new original score. Body and soul, directed by the legendary african american filmmaker oscar micheaux, is a direct critique of the power of the cloth, casting robeson in dual roles as a jackleg preacher and a wellmeaning inventor. Body and soul oscar micheaux, 1925 counter programming the great movies written by rick april 19, 2015 part of an ongoing effort to watch a set of films from nonwhite, nonu. Oscar micheauxs body and soul and the burden of representation by pearl bowser and louise spence this essay explores oscar micheauxs silent drama body and soul 1925 and some of the critical discourses of the period. Renee baker brings jazz to body and soul, oscar micheaux. Oscar micheaux october 2, 1884 1951 was a pioneering african american author and filmmaker, and without a doubt the most famous producer of race films.
It is the film that firmly established what could be called the micheaux style, and a seminal film in the history and advancement of black cinema. Body and soul pioneering filmmaker oscar micheaux s 1925 film body and soul was one the first 12 films that he made, from his start as a director in 1919. Watching these films, i have to wonder what he might have done with, say, a big budget and a. This film didnt need special effects to be appreciated or tell the story. In this good versus bad twin melodrama, robeson plays both an escaped convict posing as a minister, and the convicts honest, yet penniless brother. Although predated by the short lived lincoln motion picture company that put out smaller films, he is regarded as the first africanamerican feature filmmaker, and the most prominent producer of race films. In 2019, the film was selected by the library of congress for inclusion in the national film registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Among the trailblazing artists whose work is featured here are oscar micheaux, the first major african american feature filmmaker, whose body of work includes body and soul, starring paul robeson in his film debut, and within our gates. Body and soul is a 1925 race film produced, written, directed, and distributed by oscar micheaux and starring paul robeson in his motion. Body and soul is of much greater historical and cultural significance than of dramatic import. An escaped prisoner seeks refuge in the predominantly africanamerican town of tatesville, georgia, by passing. Micheaux s body and soul doubtless was also about money because he had to pay bills too, but its obvious he was into his craft. Paul robeson and julia theresa russell star in this scene from a remastered version of oscar micheaux s 1925 film body and soul. How oscar micheaux defied hollywood to make the first all.
Body and soul is a story about the abuse of religious faith and how the veneration of minster over family can lead to tragedy. Unfortunately his mastery of technique wasnt very good. Body and soul is a 1925 film directed by oscar micheaux. Body and soul stars robeson as an escaped convict, described in a title card as a man of many aliases. Like don byron, trombonist wycliffe gordon is shedding light on the lost art of live silent film accompaniment. Micheaux or sometimes written as michaux, was born near metropolis, illinois and grew up in great bend, kansas, one of. Body and soul follows the film follows the exploits of an escaped prisoner who seeks refuge in the town of tatesville, georgia, by passing. A landmark film directed by oscar micheaux and starring paul robeson in his film debut. Body and soul 1925, the bestknown silent film of pioneer black filmmaker oscar micheaux, offered paul robeson, the great singeractorathlete, his first opportunity in films. The legendary paul robesonactor, singer, lawyer, and political activistmade a blistering screen debut in this silent masterpiece by the prolific independent black director oscar micheaux. In within our gates and body and soul oscar micheaux encourages viewers to question. Body and soul follows the film follows the exploits of an escaped. He is obviously an incredibly important film maker who has not gotten his due for the unfortunately obvious reason of his race.
While robeson gives a vibrant, naturalistic performance, body and soul is perhaps best understood as a work by oscar micheaux, the most prolific and enduring director of race movies. Oscar devereaux micheaux was an american author and film director. Pioneers of africanamerican cinema kino lorber theatrical. Paul robeson makes his film debut in this oscar micheaux melodrama. Pioneers of african american cinema the criterion channel. Writer and director oscar micheaux regularly created films that dealt with troubling africanamerican issues, church issues, and personal issues, often doing it in a way which offended the black audience. It emanated the typical and cynical parody of life which has manifested throughout generations. Screen snapshots micheaux footage, 1920, 1 minute bonus.
Purple rain, clerks, shes gotta have it added to national film registry. In celebration of black history month, the chicago symphony orchestras african american network presents a screening on feb. Clip from body and soul as the era rocked on, only one black dreamweaver survived the competition from hollywood and even the great depression. Its the story of sister martha jane mercedes gilbert, a devout churchgoer whose hard work has resulted in a nice nest egg. Oscar micheauxs body and soul and the burden of representation. Body and soul is a 1925 race film produced, written, directed, and distributed by oscar micheaux and starring paul robeson in his. So the rutgers football star and columbiaeducated lawyer made his film debut under the aegis of oscar micheaux, a goitalone entrepreneur who made his socially potent, artistically amateurish pictures on the supercheap. Lets continue to embrace the melodrama with the 1925 silent race film, body and soul.
Body and soul was directed by oscar micheaux, who may not be a household name but who is still a very important figure in the development of american film. Robeson has a dual role, playing both an escaped convict who presents himself as a. Late in oscar micheaux s 1925 silent film classic body and soul, there is a scene in which paul robeson, playing an escaped convict posing. Micheauxs body and soul doubtless was also about money because he had to pay bills too, but its obvious he was into his craft. A compelling new live jazz score accompanies screenings of. Mainstream avenues were limited, however, and his first films were made on the peripheries of the film business. Thats what chicago composerconductor renee baker and music editor don dinicola have been doing with body and soul, oscar micheaux s groundbreaking a 1925 race film. Body and soul is a 1925 race film produced, written, directed, and distributed by oscar micheaux and starring paul robeson in his motion picture debut.
Spencer williams, whose masterpiece the blood of jesus is among the most celebrated race films of the era. Body and soul, directed by the legendary african american filmmaker oscar micheaux. Csos african american network to present the film body. Oscar micheaux s 1925 film body and soul is the earliest surviving feature by an africanamerican director. Csos african american network to present the film body and soul. The films of oscar micheaux 8 minutes regenerationrichard e. Robeson excels in a dual role, playing both an escaped convict who presents. On september 20, gordon conducted the lincoln center jazz orchestra in a public tech rehearsal of his new original score to body and soul, oscar micheaux s classic 1925 silent film. This film didnt need special effects to be appreciated or tell the. With paul robeson, mercedes gilbert, julia theresa russell. Over the next three decades, micheaux wrote, produced, and directed more than 40 silent features and talkies.
Micheaux s films blended entertainment with biting social commentary. Directed by the pioneering oscar micheaux 18841951 and rarely shown, the film features paul robeson 18981976 in his motionpicture. Winning the most acclaim were body and soul, harlem after midnight, and within our gates. A message in these films is that the practice of religion, without thoughtfulness of the part of those who practice, may not lead people in the right direction. Tijelo i dusa je americki nijemi rasni film snimljen 1925. A minister is malevolent and sinister behind his righteous facade. Oscar micheaux s place in history is slowly becoming clear to me. Its one of the films included in the box set pioneers of africanamerican. But with no money left for reshoots, producer oscar micheaux shot a quick ending which makes most of the films action a dream of the. Robeson has a dual role, playing both an escaped convict who presents himself as a minister, and the convicts upstanding brother. In 1931, when most black independants were closing up shop he released the exile, the first alltalking motion picture made by a black company. Yet, body and soul is the only film he made with an african american director, a relatively unacknowledged fact. Oscar micheaux 1 18841951 filmmaker, author pioneer roots and an enterprising spirit 2 began trend in race films 3 honored by cinematic community after his death 4 selected writings 5 sources 6 no history of american cinema is complete without the inclusion of oscar micheaux 7, a. This essay explores oscar micheauxs silent drama body and soul 1925 and.
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