Song of Freedom (1936)

Director:

J. Elder Wills

Writers:

Claude Wallace (story) and
Dorothy Holloway (story) ...

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Robeson In His Most Memorable Role!-Cast of Thousands In $500,000 Epic!

Plot Keywords:

Africa | Docker | England | Impresario | Opera

Cast

Paul Robeson	...	John 'Johnny' Zinga
Elisabeth Welch	...	Ruth Zinga (as Elizabeth Welch)
Esme Percy	...	Gabriel Donizetti
Robert Adams	...	Monty
James Solomon	...	Native Leader
Ecce Homo Toto	...	Mandingo
Ronald Simpson	...	Mr. Blane, the Pianist
George Mozart	...	Bert Puddick
Jenny Dean	...	Marian
Joan Fred Emney	...	Nell Puddick
Bernard Ansell	...	Sir James Pyrie
Johnnie Schofield
Ambrose Manning	...	Trader
Arthur Elliott		(as Hon. Arthur Eliot)
Cornelia Smith	...	Queen Zinga (as Miss C. Smith)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Filming Locations:

Beaconsfield Studios, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

In the film, Paul Robeson performs a scene from Louis Gruenberg's operatic version of "The Emperor Jones". He had earlier starred in Eugene O'Neill's original play on Broadway (1923) and in the 1933 film version of the play.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Shepperton Babylon (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stepping Stones

Fairly good film, if not a bit too idealistic.

This was a fairly good film dating back to 1936 from Hammer Productions in Britain. Starring Paul Robeson, whose extraordinary vocal talents are properly utilized. It's the story of a African-Briton living in England after slavery has been abolished in the European nation. He works on the docks and his one dream in life to discover his ancestry in Africa. His interest is fueled by a song that he sings often, be it to his wife or during his job on the docks. A song that he never learned, but as he would put it, was always inside of him. His amazing bass singing voice is over-heard by a theater yuppie and he is quickly recruited to the stage appearing in theatrical productions while utilizing his singing talents. After creating a fan following and with the help of some knowledge from a theater-goer, he decides to finally take the trip to Africa to find his "roots." Overall, the film is good, if not a bit too idealistic. But it doesn't harm the film's integrity and Robeson's great talent as both an actor and singer. Seeing how this film is not known well, I would recommend it. It's not a very long picture; it runs just under and hour and twenty minutes. So take some the time, and find this movie. If not for the film, then do it for Robeson's incredible vocal talents.***