The Emperor Jones
(1933)

Director: Dudley Murphy

Key Cast: Paul Robeson, Dudley Digges, Frank Wilson, Fredi Washington, Ruby Elzy, George Stamper, Jackie Mabley, Blueboy O’Connor, Brandon Evans, Taylor Gordon

Rating: Unrated

Genre(s): Drama

In the key role of his career, Paul Robeson repeats his powerful stage porter who becomes the ruler of a remote Caribbean island, a story loosely patterned after the life of Haitian emperor Henri Chritophe. 

The underlying 1920 Eugene O’Neill play was one of the first to portray the black man as an individual rather than as a stereotype.  Emperor Jones deals with whites on his own terms – sometimes even contemptuously, as in his dialogue with the white trader superbly played by Dudley Digges.  Jones’ eventual downfall comes as the result of his own fear rather than any other cause. 

As in other sound film starring the acclaimed baritone, Paul Robeson has two songs, “Let Me Fly” and “Water Boy.” 

∙  This version of The Emperor Jones, never before available on home video, has been newly restored by the Library of Congress using elements from several archives and collectors and includes a color sequence original to the film.  As very brief sections of the image remain lost, this restoration includes short “image drop-outs” in order that the complete soundtrack to the film may be presented.

∙  In his autobiography, Paul Robeson states that he later regretted doing "The Emperor Jones" because it deviates so much from the stage play.  Many critics, however, say that this film is a classic because it shows the depth and strength of Paul Robeson’s acting ability.

∙  Many white theatres would not show this film and those theatres that did show The Emperor Jones demanded that certain scenes be cut from it such as when the white man Smithers lights the cigarette for the Emperor.

∙  African-American actress Fredi Washington (who plays Undine in the film), was purposely darkened with makeup so that audiences wouldn’t think that Paul Robeson was romantically involved with a white woman.

∙  Selected to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, 1999.

Buy The Emperor Jones Movie DVD
"The Emperor Jones" stars Paul Robeson
in one of his finest film roles.

The Emperor Jones Movie Poster
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Paul Robeson DVD Collection
The Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist DVD Collection contains eight Paul Robeson films including The Emperor Jones.  They are:

The Emperor Jones
Body and Soul  (Another Top 100 BlackClassicMovies.com film)
Borderline
Sanders of the River
Jericho
The Proud Valley
Native Land
Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist

Buy The Paul Robeson Movie DVD Collection

 
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