Product Details

• Actors: Paul Robeson, Mercedes Gilbert, Julia Theresa Russell, Lawrence Chenault, Marshall Rogers
• Directors: Oscar Micheaux
• Format: Black & White, Silent, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kino Video
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304801904
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,370 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Classics > Silent Films > Drama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC DEBUT, February 21, 2002

By	Bonita L. Davis (Decatur, Georgia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Paul Robeson makes his debut on screen in this classic tale of a treacherous minister who takes advantage of a parishoner's daughter. Our premier actor does an admirable job in portraying this criminal cleric whose style and aura mesmerizes a flock which refuses to question his integrity.

Oscar Micheaux, one of the pioneers of African-American cinematography, does an outstanding job in using his skills in dealing with the controversial subject of clerical deceit. Originally censored in New York, Micheaux was forced to make cuts to make sure this piece made it to the screen. The present film that you see right now is a restoration of those cuts that were in the original shooting.

Although I enjoyed the film the technical problems stood out due to the restoration. Yet, this did not diminish the find performance of Robeson. As one who was not raised with silent films, Robeson's expressions and mannerisms fully conveyed the story. The fact of Robeson's playing two parts (the evil preacher and the good brother) bodes well for his verstility as an actor. This is a must have video for your collection of historical African-American silent film.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tells the Truth about an important subject, June 14, 2001

By	Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This movie is excellent for a silent film. Paul Robeson is brilliant as the phony preacher who shamelessly takes advantage of the women in his congegation. The scene where Robeson rapes the daughter of his most devoted member is made all of the more horrfying by the look in Robeson's eyes as he approaches the young lady. The ugly fact is that there still are too may preachers like this in real life who exploit the faith of the less cynical, and Micheaux should have been commedned for telling the truth!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hidden meaning, April 11, 2003

By	"rappersdelight" (Norman, Ok United States) - See all my reviews

Even though the movie is about an ex-convict portraying a preacher who smokes drinks and other sinning ways. The movie had an hidden agenda. Ever action shot taken place at Isabella's house had pictures of W.E.B> DuBois, Frederick Douglass and Abe Lincoln. This was to say that slavery did happen and black people should accept that fact instead of acting like it never happened. The movie also had a concept of what is a good black man. Since Sylvester was a well to do educated man he seemed less worthy than the preacher, who was deemed higher social rank than Sylvester. The movie also had a strong message of a strong black woman. Isabella's mom did ever thing to support her daughter without the use of a man of any help. So at first view the movie might seemed bad, but look further and you will find a deeper hidden meaning.