The Blood of Jesus
(1941)

Director: Spencer Williams

Key Cast : Cathryn Caviness, Spencer Williams, Juanita Riley, Heather Hardeman, Rogenia Goldthwaite, Jas. B. Jones, Frank H. McClennan, Eddie DeBase, Alva Fuller, Rev. R. L. Robertson

Rating: Unrated

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy

Pious, young Martha Jackson (Catheryn Caviness) is accidentally shot by her sinful husband, Razz Jackson (Spencer Williams), on the very same day she was baptized in a solemn riverside service. 

Instead of being sent straight to heaven, Martha is escorted by an angel to The Crossroads, where a sign points in opposite directions – Hell and Zion.  Just as she turns toward salvation, Satan sends a suave seducer, Judas Green, to sweet-talk her into changing her mind. 

The low-life juke joints of the city are fun at first, but when ordered to “work” the dance floor with other fallen women, Martha flees in horror. 

Mistaken for an escaping female pickpocket, she is chased all the way back to The Crossroads by a gang of vengeful men intent on stoning her to death.

∙  Spencer Williams wrote, produced, directed and acted in this film.  (He plays the sinful Razz Jackson.) Spencer Williams is best known for playing Andy in the 1950s Amos ‘n Andy television series.  But prior to this role, he was a well-known director of all-black cast movies.

∙  This was the first in a number of “race movies” that Spencer Williams directed.  (Race movies are films that were specifically developed for black audiences and featured all-black casts. They were made primarily between 1915 and 1947. ) 

∙  Selected in 1991 to the U.S. Library of Congress National Film Registry because of its artistic, cultural or historical significance to the American film industry.

Buy The Blood of Jesus DVD
This movie is part of the "Harlem Double Feature" series of films.
The other movie on this DVD is "Lying Lips" which was also
directed by Spencer Williams. Both of these movies are "Race Films"
which were made during the 1930s and 1940s.

Harlem Double Feature Films - Early Race Movies
"Harlem Double Feature" are DVDs that contain at least two "Race Movies" made between 1915 and 1937.

These movies star all-Black casts and were specifically made for Black movie audiences. They were usually made with crude equipment on a limited budget, but they provide a good view of African-American moviemaking during this time.