This academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. Nov 18, 2014 the artist and director steve mcqueen has revealed that his next film will be about the black american actor, singer and activist paul robeson mcqueen, whose last film 12 years a slave won an. Sep 05, 2007 here, one of the most fanatastic bass voices of all times sings we are climbing jacobs ladder. The film is about actor and activist paul robeson and his work in civil rights. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing paul robeson.
Paul robeson was an acclaimed performer known for productions like the emperor jones and othello. Ol man river from the original motion picture showboat. Controversial singer, actor, and political force whose booming baritone and oratory skill made him an iconic figure of the 20th century. Paul robeson now sleeps the crimson petal by sarastrone. The film was narrated by sidney poitier, and in the film it shows old footage of the late actor in various movies and entertainment. As such, she was an ideal screen and musical partner for paul robeson, who made a series of recordings and films in the u. Paul robeson galleries is located at express newarkrutgers university. Black in the british frame the black experience in british film and television. Joe hill was a labor activist, iww member, and songwriter prominent in the early 1900s.
This 1979 oscarwinning documentary recalls the life of paul robeson 18981976athlete, actor, singer and political activist. Dec 06, 2007 here is a famous song performed live in moscow in 1949 by the legendary paul robeson. Turells academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. Tribute to an artist concert artist, shakespearean actor, allamerican athlete, scholar, civil rights champion paul robeson overcame tremendous obstacles to become a true 20thcentury renaissance man. He was perhaps most groundbreaking, however, in the medium of film.
Tribute to an artist, i couldnt help that any film about this remarkable man cannot adequately sum him up in under. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his. The son of an escaped slave, robeson managed to become a topbilled movie star during the time of jim crow america, headlining everything from fellow pioneer. Steve mcqueen to make film about paul robeson film the. Yet this aspect of his career came about almost by accident, as explained by narrator sidney poitier in the following clip from saul j. Film series organized by artrage gallery a community production collaboration may 2018 graphics. Subject of 2001 manic street preachers single let robeson sing from the album know your enemy quotes i shall take my voice wherever there are those who want to hear the melody of freedom or the words that might inspire hope and courage in the face of fear. Turell profiles early 20thcentury american singer paul robeson. Soon, the audience in mother zion church from new york joins him. Although robeson achieved artistic and financial success, the spanish civil war effectuated his deprecation of his commercial career in order to proselytize. And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of equality and freedom in america. Why the paul robeson biopic will help restore the reputation.
And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards for documentary short subject. Discover video clips of recent music performances and more on mtv. He was convicted of murder and executed in 1915 in a controversial trial, with many arguing that he was. More importantly the film transfer itself is horrific. He rose to prominence in a time when segregation was legal in the united states, and black people were being lynched by racist mobs, especially in the south. Here, one of the most fanatastic bass voices of all times sings we are climbing jacobs ladder. Paul robeson the best of paul robeson releases discogs. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism. Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bassbaritone voice. Why the paul robeson biopic will help restore the reputation of the 20th centurys most talented individual. He gained international attention for his work in the arts and he merged his artistic career with political activism to speak out for the equality of minorities and the. Tribute to an artist is famous documentary short by saul j. Paul robeson galleries art gallery newark, new jersey.
An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major triumphs on the stage in the 1920s through his gradually increasing social activism in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to his controversial performances in eastern europe in the 1940s in which he performed communist. Paul robeson biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Portraits of the artist may be the only way to understand him. The paul robeson collection 19261956 documents robeson s artistic and political career from 1949 to 1956. Paul robeson, a brief biography paul robeson was a famous africanamerican athlete, singer, actor, and advocate for the civil rights of people around the world. In 1915 he enrolled at rutgers college, new jersey, and in 1920 he entered columbia university law school. Paul leroy bustill robeson april 9, 1898january 23, 1976 was an afroamerican actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator. Turell, with margaret webster, sidney poitier, at turner classic movies. Tribute to an artist 1979 winner of 8 awards, including an academy award. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, pennsylvania africanamerican bassbaritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, scholar and lawyer who was also noted for. Increasingly politically minded, robeson eventually left movies behind, using his. Paul robeson was reportedly attached to this historical drama about toussaintlouverture, liberator of colonial haiti.
Tribute to an artist 1979 the criterion collection. Turells academy awardwinning 1979 documentary short, paul robeson. Tribute to an artist is a 1979 american short documentary film directed by saul j. Paul robeson 1898 1976 was an american actor, athlete.
If you are interested in setting up film festivals, we will soon offer advice as to how to obtain proper permissions or theatrical releases. Paul leroy bustill robeson april 9, 1898january 23, 1976 was an afroamerican actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, lawyer, and basso profondo concert singer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major triumphs on the stage in the 1920s through his gradually increasing social activism in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to his controversial performances in eastern europe in the 1940s in which he performed communist anthems and. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, pennsylvania africanamerican bassbaritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, scholar and lawyer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. Paul robeson celebrated american singer, actor, and black activist. As a singer, robeson s deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. Turells academy award winning documentary short paul robeson. The film was to be directed by sergei eisenstein and he and robeson discussed the idea at length during robesons first trip the soviet union in december 1934. 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. Paul leroy robeson was born in 1898 in princeton, new jersey, to william drew robeson and maria louisa bustill. Paul robeson may be the most important africanamerican entertainer of the 20th century, but his recorded legacy is so compromised that a dvd set like criterions paul robeson. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, ol man river. Turell that was designed to educate people about the career of paul robeson, an american artist few people knew or remembered because there was a conceded effort to wipe him from history. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces the career of paul robeson through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, ol man river.
Paul robeson news, music performances and show video. Paul robeson actor, singer, professional athlete, civil rights activist. Tribute to an artist 1979 black shadows on the silver screen. Come and experience michael pauls extraordinary voice in this oneman show of songs, stories, and more. Its included as a special feature on a collection of robeson films by criterion and can be found on disk 1. As a singer, robesons deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major triumphs on the stage in the 1920s through his gradually. The artist and director steve mcqueen has revealed that his next film will be about the black american actor, singer and activist paul robeson mcqueen, whose last film. But his film legacy lives on and continues to speak eloquently of the long and difficult journey of a courageous and outspoken african american.
Paul robeson when its sleepy time down south 1931 by tmmvds. Tribute to an artist, that won an academy award for. As such, this 78andahalfminute, 30song compilation of robesons film music is able to include two duets between the two the other one is sleepy river from song of freedom and six solo performances by welch. Francine stock visits the setting and locations of the proud valley, which starred paul robeson, actor, activist, singer, linguist, lawyer and honorary welshman. This is a short biographical tribute to paul robeson and is narrated by sidney poitier. In addition to being an actor, activist, and orator, robeson was a star of the concert hall. Thanks to him i was able to graduate from rutgers university as a recipient of the paul robeson scholarship. Robeson was an amazing renaissance man who left his indelible mark on not only on american and world film, theater and music his singing voice is one of the most powerful and resonant i have ever heard, but also on u. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career. Tribute to an artist is an autobiography movie that was released in 1979.
When the arts council of princeton renovated and reopened the building at the intersection of witherspoon street and robeson place on june 5, 2008 see article, it was christened the paul robeson center for the arts, another honor to the life and contributions of paul robeson and the witherspoonjackson neighborhood of his childhood home. Allamerican athlete, scholar, renowned baritone, stage actor, and social activist, paul robeson 18981976 was a towering figure and a trailblazer many times over. Tribute to an artist concert artist, shakespearean actor, allamerican athlete, scholar, civil rights championpaul robeson overcame tremendous obstacles to become a true 20thcentury renaissance man. Apr 09, 2012 in addition to being an actor, activist, and orator, robeson was a star of the concert hall. Films and videotapes about paul robeson paul robeson. Paul robeson as himself archive footage sidney poitier as narrator voice. Songs from their films paul robeson, elisabeth welch. Paul robeson, a brief biography university of chicago. General, professional, passport case and organizations, the collection consists mainly of correspondence, manuscripts and printed matter, and represents for the most part office files of the united freedom fund, established in 1952. With sidney poitier, paul robeson, margaret webster. Paul robeson april 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was a multilingual american actor, athlete, bassbaritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, spingarn medal winner, and lenin peace prize laureate. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley. Paul robeson 1898 1976 was an american actor, athlete, singer, writer, civil rights activist, and a great. Portraits of the artist features several of robesons films and an abundance of.
387 420 663 1121 18 466 1344 828 623 156 562 1288 1463 1302 246 115 386 1366 1285 1377 430 21 1297 687 869 607 945 1226 1420 6 536 476 1457 231 577 790 1386