Pioneers of African-American cinema

DVD - 2016

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.

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DVD/791.43652996/Pioneers v. 1
vol. 1: 1 / 1 copies available
vol. 2: 1 / 1 copies available
vol. 3: 1 / 1 copies available
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Subjects
Genres
Race films
Slapstick comedy films
Independent films
Silent films
Short films
Feature films
Religious films
Video recordings for the hearing impaired
Romance films
Published
New York, NY : Kino Classics [2016]
[Washington, DC : [2016]
Language
English
Other Authors
Charles Musser (contributor), Jacqueline Najuma Stewart, 1970- (film director), C. N. David (screenwriter), Harry A. Gant, 1881-1967 (-), Richard E. Norman, 1891-1961, True T. Thompson, Spencer Williams, 1893-1969, Oscar Micheaux, 1884-1951, Richard D. Maurice, James Gist, Eloyce Gist, 1892-1974, Roy Calnek, Frank Perugini, David Starkman, -1947, Richard C. Kahn, 1897-1960, Pearl Bowser, 1931-, T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur, 1809-1885, William W. Pratt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell) Chesnutt, 1858-1932, W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham, 1874-1965, T. S. (Thomas Sigismund) Stribling, 1881-1965
Edition
Full screen
Item Description
Films originally produced 1915-1946.
Special features include commentary by Jacqueline Najuma Stewart, Charles Musser, Bret Wood, S. Torriano Berry, and Mike Mashon.
Body and soul: Based on the novel by Oscar Micheaux.
Dirty Gerties from Harlem U.S.A.: Based on the story "Miss Thompson" by W. Somerset Maugham.
Ten minutes to live: Based on the short stories "The Faker", "The Killer", and "Harlem after midnight" a collection entitled "Harlem after midnight" (author undetermined).
Ten nights in a bar room: Based on the novel by Timothy Shay Arthur and the stage adaptation by William W. Pratt.
The birthright: Based on the novel by Thomas Sigismund Stribling.
The bxile: Based on the novel The Conquest by Oscar Micheaux.
The birl from Chicago: Based on the short story "Jeff Ballinger's Woman" by Oscar Micheaux.
Veiled aristocrats: Based on the novel The House Behind the Cedars by Charles W. Chesnutt.
Physical Description
5 v. (1 videodisc per volume) (approximately 1276 min.) : silent and sound, black and white and color tinted : 4 3/4 in
Format
DVD; NTSC; region 1; Dolby digital 2.0.
Awards
National Film Registry selection, 1991: Blood of Jesus.
National Film Registry selection, 1992: Within our gates.
  • Disc 1. Two knights of vaudeville (11 min. ; 1915) / produced by the Ebony Film Corporation ; produced by Luther Pollard ; music composed by Donald Sosin
  • A reckless rover (14 min. ; 1918) / produced by Luther Pollard ; directed by C.N. David ; produced by Ebony Film Corporation
  • Within our gates (79 min. ; 1920) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; new musical score composed by Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky
  • The symbol of the unconquered: a story of the Ku Klux Klan (59 min.; 1920) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; music by Max Roach
  • By right of birth (fragment) (4 min.; 1921) / directed by Harry A. Gant ; produced by P.H. Updike ; screenplay by Dora Mitchell ; story by George Johnson ; music by Donald Sosin
  • Body and soul (93 min.; 1925) / written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; new musical score composed by Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky
  • Screen snapshots (excerpt) (1 min. ; 1920)
  • Disc 2. Regeneration (fragment of reel two) (11 min. ; 1923) / directed by Richard Norman ; produced by the Norman Film Manufacturing Company ; music by nald Sosin
  • The flying ace (65 min. ; 1926) / written, produced and directed by Richard E. Norman ; produced at the Norman Studios ; musical score compiled from historic photoplay music by The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
  • Ten nights in a bar room (64 min. ; 1926) / directed by Roy Calnek ; music by Donald Sosin
  • 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 ; music composed and performed by Makia Matsumura
  • Disc 3. Eleven P.M. (60 min. ; 1928) / written and directed by Richard Maurice ; music composed and performed by Rob Gal
  • Hell-bound train (50 min. ; c.1930) / written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; music composed and performed by Samuel Waymon
  • Verdict: not guilty (8 min. ; c.1933) / written and directed by James and Eloyce Gist ; music composed and performed by Samuel Waymon
  • The darktown revue (18 min. ; 1931) / directed by Oscar Micheaux ; produced by Oscar Micheaux and Alice B. Russell ; produced by the Micheaux Film Corporation
  • The exile (78 min. ; 1931) / Frank Schiffman presents an Oscar Micheaux production ; written and directed by Oscar Micheaux ; produced by the Micheaux Film Corporation ; music by Donald Heywood
  • 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
  • Veiled aristocrats (trailer) (4 min. ; 1932)
  • Birthright (73 min. ; 1938) / Burton Russell presents an Oscar Micheaux Production ; screenplay by Oscar Micheaux
  • Birthright (trailer) (3 min. ; 1938)
  • Disc 5. The bronze buckaroo (58 min. ; 1939) / written, produced and directed by Richard C. Kahn ; music by Lew Porter
  • Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort, South Carolina (excerpt ; 1940)
  • 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 (33 min. ; circa 1978) / directed and photographed by Pearl Bowser
  • The Tyler-Texas Black film collection (promotional film) (6 min. ; 1985).
  • Special features: Disc 1. Pioneers of African-American cinema : an introduction (8 min. ; 2016) ; The films of Oscar Micheaux (9 min. ; 2016)
  • Disc 2. The color line (6 min. ; 2016) ; Ten nights in a barroom : an introduction (5 min. ; 2016) ; About the restoration (8 min. ; 2016)
  • Disc 3. Religion in early African-American cinema (7 min. ; 2016) ; Eleven P.M. : an introduction (3 min. ; 2016) ; S. Torriano Berry discusses the works of James and Eloyce Gist (5 min. ; 2016)
  • Disc 4. Veiled aristocrats (Original trailer) (4 min. ; 1932) ; Birthright (Theatrical trailer) (3 min. ; 1938)
  • Disc 5. The films of Zora Neale Hurston (2 min. ; 2016) ; The films of Spencer Williams (7 min. ; 2016) ; The end of an era (5 min. ; 2016).