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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 |
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| Movie Summary |
"The Emperor Jones" stars Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones.
"The Emperor Jones" is based on a Eugene O'Neill stage play. The movie version was extremely controversial because
it depicted an African-American man on the same level as a white man. Thus, it was not shown in many southern theatres.
In the movie, Brutus Jones rises from being a train porter to emperor of a Caribbean island. He deals with "white people"
on his own terms, including the trader Smithers (Dudley Digges). |
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| Trivia |
∙ 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. |
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| Awards |
∙ "The Emperor Jones" was selected to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, 1999. |
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| DVD Availability |
Buy The Emperor Jones Movie DVD
"The Emperor Jones" stars Paul Robeson
in one of his finest film roles.
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"The Emperor Jones" Movie Poster |
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The Emperor Jones Movie Poster
Buy vintage The Emperor Jones movie posters.
Click the poster image on the left
for purchase details.
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Paul Robeson DVD Collection |
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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
Click on the above button
for purchase details.
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The Emperor Jones
Movie DVD
Paul Robeson stars in
"The Emperor Jones" as
Brutus Jones.
Click the above button
for purchase details.
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