Pioneers of African-American cinema / Kino Classics ; Library of Congress ; curated by Charles Musser and Jacqueline Najuma Stewart ; executive producer, Paul D. Miller ; producer, Bret Wood.
Publisher:
Kino Classics,
Copyright Date:
2016
Description:
5 videodiscs (approximately 1227 min.) : silent and sound, black and white and color tinted ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (76 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm)
Blu-ray release of films originally produced 1915-1946. Booklet includes essays by Charles Musser, Jacqueline Najuma Stewart, Rhea L. Combs, and Mary N. Elliott. Special features: Disc 1. An introduction ; The films of Oscar Micheaux -- Disc 2. The color line ; Ten nights in a bar room : an introduction ; About the restoration -- Disc 3. Religion in early African-American cinema ; Eleven P.M. : an introduction ; Interview with S. Torriano Berry -- Disc 4. Veiled aristocrats [Theatrical trailer] ; Birthright [Theatrical trailer] ; We work again [Blu-ray edition only] -- Disc 5. Tyler Texas black film collection [Promotional film] ; The films of Zora Neale Hurston ; The films of Spencer Williams ; The end of an era -- Booklet: Film form/film function / Paul D. Miller ; Race cinema and the color line / Charles Musser ; Race movies : a patchwork history / Jacqueline Najuma Stewart ; A special discovery : Pearl Bowser and the Moses sisters / Rhea L. Combs ; Reverend Solomon Sir Jones : capturing progress in black Oklahoma, 1924-28 / Mary N. Elliott ; Special thanks ; Filmography ; Suggested reading.
Contents:
[Fragment of reel two] (11 min. ; 1923^^^ Regeneration (11 min. ; 1915) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; Mercy, the mummy mumbled [Blu-ray edition only] (12 min. : 1912) / produced by the Ebony Film Corporation ; produced by Luther Pollard ; directed by R.G. Phillips ; A reckless rover (14 min. : 1918) / produced by the Ebony Film Corporation ; produced by Luther Pollard ; directed by C.N. David ; Within our gates (79 min. ; 1920) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; The symbol of the unconquered : a story of the Ku Klux Klan (59 min.; 1920) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; By right of birth [Fragment] (4 min. : 1921) / produced by P.H. Updike ; directed by Harry A. Gant ; Body and soul (93 min.; 1925) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; Screen snapshots [Excerpt] (1 min. ; 1920) -- Disc 2. Regeneration [Fragment of reel two] (11 min. ; 1923^^^ ^ written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; The darkroom revue [Blu-ray edition only] (15 min. : circa 1935) / written, produced and directed by Richard E. Norman ; produced at the Norman Studios ; Ten nights in a bar room (64 min. ; 1926) / directed by Roy Calnek ; Rev. S.S. Jones home movies [Excerpts] (16 min. ; 1924-1928) / directed and photographed by Reverend Solomon Sir Jones ; The scar of shame (86 min. ; 1929) / directed by Frank Perugini ; written by David Starkman ; produced by Colored Players Film Corporation -- Disc 3. Eleven P.M. (60 min. ; 1928) / written and directed by Richard Maurice ; Hell-bound train (50 min. ; c.1930) / written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; Verdict : not guilty (8 min. ; circa 1933) / written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; Heaven-bound travelers [Blu-ray edition only] (15 min. : circa 1935) / written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; The darkroom revue ^ (58 min. ; 1939^^^ Burton Russell presents an Oscar Micheaux Production ; screenplay by Oscar Micheaux -- The bronze buckaroo (78 min. ; 1931) / Frank Schiffman presents an Oscar Micheaux production ; written and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; produced by the Micheaux Film Corporation ; Hot Biskits (10 min. ; 1931) / written and directed by Spencer Williams ; produced by Dixie Comedies -- Disc 4. The girl from Chicago (70 min. ; 1932) / A. Burton Russell presents Oscar Micheaux's production ; written and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; produced by Micheaux Pictures Corp. ; Ten minutes to live (58 min. ; 1932) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; Veiled aristocrats (44 min. ; 1932) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; Birthright (73 min. ; 1938) / Burton Russell presents an Oscar Micheaux Production ; screenplay by Oscar Micheaux -- Disc 5. The bronze buckaroo (58 min. ; 1939^^^ ^ directed and photographed by Pearl Bowser. The Moses sisters interview [2012.79.2.280.1] (33 min. ; circa 1978) / Commandment keeper church, Beaufort South Carolina, May 1940 [Excerpt] (1940) / directed and photographed by Zora Neale Hurston with audio recordings by Norman Chalfin ; The blood of Jesus (56 min. ; 1941) / written and directed by Spencer Williams ; produced by Amegro Films ; Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. (60 min. ; 1946) / Alfred N. Sack presents ; directed by Spencer Williams ; produced by Bert Goldberg ; screenplay by True T. Thompson ; The Moses sisters interview [2012.79.2.280.1] (33 min. ; circa 1978) / directed and photographed by Pearl Bowser.
Summary:
Among the most fascinating chapters of film history is that of the so-called "race films" that flourished in the 1920s -'40s. Unlike the "black cast" films produced within the Hollywood studio system, these films not only starred African Americans but were funded, written, produced, edited, distributed, and often exhibited by people of color. Entrepreneurial filmmakers built an industry apart from the Hollywood establishment, cultivating visual and narrative styles that were uniquely their own.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.