Customer Reviews

Paul Robeson - James Earl Jones One Man Show

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Today the legend of Paul Robeson is not so well known, but
thirty to forty years ago he was recognized as a giant. Here is a man who performed serious roles in the movies, most rare for Black actors in the 1930'and 1940's. Robeson's singing of African American folk spirituals is second to none. Paul Robeson became a lawyer, an actor, an activist and was rather fluent in several languages. (But in response to Jim Crow racism, he turned to socialism for an answer...a political choice that many have never forgiven)

James Earl Jones performs Robeson masterfully...indeed Jones is probably the only Black actor who is big enough to fill the role. I hope more people learn about this thought provoking film.

Paul Robeson has always fascinated me, especially for his singing, although he certainly had many flaws, not the least of which was his stubborn defense of the Soviet Union long after its government was exposed as a pack of mass murderers. However, he was a superstar of the first half of the 20th century, and James Earl Jones does him justice in this one-man show. Paul's only child, Paul Junior, did not like this script when it came out 30 years ago, but I can't understand why. This one has a great actor playing a great actor, singer, activist and athlete. My son gave this to me recently in return for some babysitting, and it replaces a ruined audiotape I had made of the show when it was televised on PBS in the late '70's. I am delighted to have it.

This is one very talented man portraying another very talented man. I was riveted. The only thing wrong is that it ended far too soon.

I found this video both very entertaining and very educational, I learned bits and pieces about Paul Robeson as I was growing up, and this portrayal was both very complementary and accessable. James Earl Jones is a remarkable actor and portrays himself as a credible Paul Robeson. After seeing this video, I feel I have a better understanding of the man that he was and the barriers that he had to overcome in order to just be. He was a man of many deep principles and some of these led to his social undoing.