Big Fella 1937 N/R, 73 min. Genre: Drama
Director: J. Elder Wills Cast: Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch, Roy Emerton, James Hayter, Lawrence Brown, Eldon Gorst, Marcelle Rogez, Eric Cowley, Joyce Kennedy
Some days you just can't win as Joe (Paul Robeson) learns when he finds a runaway boy, Gerald (Eldon Gorst), and takes him to cafe singer Amanda (Elisabeth Welch). But now, Gerald is threatening to claim that Joe kidnapped him if they try to return him to his parents.
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The Emperor Jones 1933 N/R, 76 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Dudley Murphy Cast: Paul Robeson, Dudley Digges, Frank C. Wilson, Fredi Washington, Ruby Elzy, George Haymid Stamper, Moms Mabley, Blueboy O'Connor, Brandon Evans, Taylor Gordon, Rex Ingram, Harold Nicholas
Brutus Jones (Paul Robeson) bids farewell to his town, wife, and Baptist faith and enters a life of violence and sin in his quest for weath and power.
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Jericho 1937 N/R, 77 min. Genre: Drama aka: Dark Sands
Director: Thornton Freeland Cast: Paul Robeson, Wallace Ford, Henry Wilcoxon, Princess Kouka, John Laurie, James Carew, Lawrence Brown, Rufus Fennell, Ike Hatch, Frank Cram, George Barraud
Unjustly convicted of the crime of striking an officer, Cpl. Jericho Jackson (Paul Robeson), is given the chance to escape when Capt. Mack (Henry Wilcoxon) allows him to attend a Christmas celebration. Robeson does get away and begins a new life in Africa. Mack, however, is court-martialed for his part in the escape and serves five years at Leavenworth. Upon his release, Mack spots a picture of Jackson in a newsreal and sets out in pursuit.
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King Solomon's Mines 1937 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Robert Stevenson Cast: Paul Robeson, Cedric Hardwicke, Roland Young, Anna Lee, John Loder, Sydney Fairbrother, Frederick Leister, Arthur Sinclair
Kathy (Anna Lee) enlists the aid of Great White Hunter Allan Quartermain (Cedric Hardwicke) when she doesn't hear from her father, Patrick O'Brien (Arthur Sinclair), who has left home in search of the fabled diamond mines. Together, they set off on a trek through Africa to find him and the mines as well.
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The Proud Valley 1940 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Drama aka: The Tunnel
Director: Pen Tennyson Cast: Paul Robeson, Edward Chapman, Simon Lack, Rachel Thomas, Dilys Thomas, Edward Rigby, Janet Johnson, Charles Williams, Jack Jones, Dilys Davies, Clifford Evans, Allan Jeayes
Miners in a Wales village count on stoker David Goliath (Paul Robeson) and his baritone voice to help them win a national choir meet. But, a mine accident puts all dreams on hold–not only for the choir contest but for the financial future of the town as well.
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Sanders of the River 1935 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Adventure aka: Bosambo
Director: Zoltan Korda Cast: Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks, Nina Mae McKinney, Robert Cochran, Martin Walker, Richard Grey, Tony Wane, Marques De Portago, Eric Maturin, Allan Jeayes, Luao, Oboja
In this British propaganda film, a Nigerian tribal chief (Paul Robeson) and a British officer (Leslie Banks) work together to bring law and order to the area.
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Show Boat 1936 N/R, 113 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: James Whale Cast: Irene Dunne, Helen Morgan, Allan Jones, Paul Robeson, Charles Winninger, Hattie McDaniel, Helen Westley, Donald Cook, Sammy White, J. Farrell MacDonald, Queenie Smith, Francis X. Mahoney, Marilyn Knowlden, Arthur Holh, Charles Middleton
This is the film that first brought Jerome Kern's Broadway musical to the screen. Cap'n Andy Hawk's (Charles Winninger) show boat troupe features married actors Julie and Steve (Helen Morgan and Donald Cook), but when it is revealed that Julie is a mulatto, she is fired, and Steve leaves with her. Cap'n Andy's daughter Magnolia (Irene Dunn) takes over the leading role and is joined by gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones) as her leading man. Later, Magnolia and Gaylord leave the show boat dreaming of a perfect life together, but problems lie ahead. Paul Robeson's poignant rendition of "Old Man River" is the highlight of this very good version.
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Song of Freedom 1936 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Drama
Director: J. Elder Wills Cast: Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch, Esme Percy, George Mozart, Arthur Williams, Ronald Simpson, Jenny Dean, Bernard Ansell, Sydney Benson, Cornelia Smith
Paul Robeson plays a former dockworker/now singer who heads to Africa with his wife seeking his roots as the rightful heir to the throne of the country of Casangas. His efforts to rid the people of superstitions and bring modern medicine to fight the rampant diseases are fought by the powerful witch doctors. He wins out, and sings several songs in the process.
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Tales of Manhattan 1942 N/R, 117 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Julien Duvivier Cast: Charles Boyer, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Edward G. Robinson, Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, J. Carrol Naish, Elsa Lanchester
This comedy/drama/mystery is the story of an expensive coat that appears cursed as it passes from one owner to another, and those who wear it suffer bad luck.
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| 1. Big Fella (1937)
2. The Emperor Jones (1933)
3. Jericho (1937) aka: Dark Sands
4. King Solomon's Mines (1937)
5. The Proud Valley (1940) aka: The Tunnel
6. Sanders of the River (1935) aka: Bosambo
7. Show Boat (1936)
8. Song of Freedom (1936)
9. Tales of Manhattan (1942)
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