(98 mins.) Released 1935-04-04
Director: Zoltan Korda
Stars: Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks, Nina Mae McKinney, Robert Cochran
adventure, drama, music
originally posted 27 Oct 2017 07:41
Overt propaganda for British colonialism, particularly in Africa. Robeson as a chief, Bosambo, aligning himself with the British, Nina Mae McKinney as his wife. (Some of the women here are bare-breasted, some are not. NM is not.) She is luminous and regal, in love with her husband and devoted to her children.
Although described by Bosambo as kind, the British magistrate is quite willing to use force, and executes a rival chief in summary judgement.
Robeson is a strong presence, but when placed on a mini-stool to sit below the Brit, he looks uncomfortable. The featurette confirms Robeson's displeasure at the resulting film, and that he demanded more and more control over the final product in his subsequent work. (They say that Jericho, aka Dark Sands (1937), is his best film, partly because of the control he exercised.)
The 2 Robeson songs show how rhythm, melody and rhyme can help teach (warriors to fight). NM's maternal song conveys love and vision for her children.
London Film Prod., dir. Z.Korda; 6+
