The son of a former slave turned preacher, robeson attended rutgers university in new brunswick, n. General, professional, passport case and organizations, the collection consists mainly of correspondence, manuscripts and printed matter, and represents for the most part office files of the united freedom fund, established in 1952. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards for documentary short subject. But his film legacy lives on and continues to speak eloquently of the long and difficult journey of a courageous and outspoken african american. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, pennsylvania africanamerican bassbaritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, scholar and lawyer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. Portraits of the artist 1925 starring paul robeson and dudley digges on dvd and bluray. Paul leroy bustill robeson 9 april 1898 23 january 1976 was an american actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, lawyer, and basso profondo concert singer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism. Educated at rutgers college and columbia university, he was also a star athlete in his youth. Portraits of the artist body and soul borderline the emperor jones paul robeson. He also studied swahili and linguistics at the school of. Documentary in these three delightful documentariesthe great chase, a rollicking compendium of the greatest hits of silentcinema chase sequences. Margaret webster as herself director of othello voice archive footage uncredited.
An american life, this interdisciplinary course opened with tribute to an artist and covered the essential aspects of robesons life and career. Harley university center, 1 south avenue, garden city, ny on. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards for documentary short subject cast. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley native land the criterion collection. Nov 12, 2014 susan robeson, a producer, documentary filmmaker, writer, consultant and granddaughter of paul robeson, will speak at the ruth s. The artist as revolutionary, his biography of actor, singer, and activist, paul robeson. Turells academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. Turell, with margaret webster, sidney poitier, at turner classic movies. The course attracted undergraduate and graduate students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and because it was well received, the course was offered every year for more. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled.
Paul robeson was an american born musician, most famous for his political views. Tribute to an artist the emperor jones play the movie chapters color bars commentary cultural historian jeffrey c. It was bengal, however, that gave robeson the most magnificent tribute. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, pennsylvania africanamerican bassbaritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, scholar and lawyer who was also noted for. Tribute to an artist 1979 black shadows on the silver screen 1975 brother can you spare a dime 1975. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from paul robeson. Come and experience michael pauls extraordinary voice in this oneman show of songs, stories, and more. Turells academy award winning documentary short paul robeson. He was a communist, and sang the english version of the national anthem of the soviet union. April 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was an american bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political activism. Paul robeson was indeed more than an artist, activist and freedom fighter. Paul robeson, edward chapman, leslie banks, dudley digges, frank h. He was the first american artist, black or white, to realize that the role of the artist extends far beyond the stage and the.
Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political. Robeson is remembered today as a great actor and singer for both broadway stage and hollywood screen. Friends, artists and writers recount the efforts of this tireless champion of africanamerican rights, whose actions ironically made him a target of mccarthyism. Tribute to an artist is an autobiography movie that was released in 1979.
Now you can listen to and enjoy michael pauls beautiful baritone voice anywhere. This 1979 oscarwinning documentary recalls the life of paul robeson 18981976athlete, actor, singer and political activist. Wilson, fredi washington, ruby elzy, george haymid stamper, brandon evans, taylor gordon, billie. Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bassbaritone voice.
Stewart, professor of history at george mason university and the editor of paul robeson. Upon graduating from rutgers at the head of his class, he rejected a career as a. Tribute to an artist 1979 the criterion collection. Susan robeson, granddaughter of artist and activist paul. Allamerican athlete, scholar, renowned baritone, stage actor, and social activist, paul robeson 18981976 was a towering figure and a trailblazer many times over. Tribute to an artist won an academy award for best short documentary in 1980. As a singer, robesons deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of equality and freedom in america. An american life, this interdisciplinary course opened with tribute to an artist and covered the essential aspects of robeson s life and career. Ol man river from the original motion picture showboat.
Dec 17, 2012 paul robeson was a prominent figure in the harlem renaissance, overcoming overt racism to star athletically as a professional and collegiate football player, academically as a rutgers. The dimensions of his talent made him our renaissance man. And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of. Paul robeson biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Tribute to an artist is a 1979 american short documentary film directed by saul j. Tribute to an artist ist ein usamerikanischer dokumentarfilm aus dem jahr 1979. On todays show, hosts cat brooks and mitch jeserich play us clips from the paul robeson documentaries the emperor jones and paul robeson.
Robeson then visits an edinburgh colliery and sings i dreamed i saw joe hill last night in its canteen. Controversial singer, actor, and political force whose booming baritone and oratory skill made him an iconic figure of the 20th century. He was perhaps most groundbreaking, however, in the medium of film. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards. In a relatively short book, horne has captured the essence of paul robeson as both a domestic leader for african american equality, as well as an international icon promoting decolonization and socialism on a. In 1995, he was named to the college football hall of fame. He became politically involved in response to the spanish civil war, fascism, and social injustices. As a singer, robeson s deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. Turell profiles early 20thcentury american singer paul robeson.
Tribute to an artist 1979 criterion collection dvd video ntsc 4. Paul robesons career as a musician mirrored his refusal to disavow his political radicalism. The film is about actor and activist paul robeson and his work in civil rights. More importantly the film transfer itself is horrific. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, ol man river. Welk music group, 1299 ocean avenue, santa monica, ca 90401. The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery.
Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of free men. Aug 01, 1992 martin dubermans treatment of paul robeson s life is a wonder thanks to his exhaustive research i. Paul robeson, the artist as activist and social thinker. The film was narrated by sidney poitier, and in the film it shows old footage of the late actor in various. Recorded on his own othello label in the 1950s, robesons voice rings out with traditional spirituals and folk melodies from around the. Documentary in these three delightful documentariesthe great chase, a rollicking compendium of the greatest hits of silentcinema chase.
A sweet tribute documentary to paul robeson, narrated with love by sidney poitier. Joe hill was a poet and union organiser for the industrial workers of the world iww, executed on a trumpedup murder charge in 1915 and subsequently immortalised as a workers hero of similar stature to robeson himself. An american giant of 20thcentury music, paul robeson stood tall against racism, mccarthyism, and blacklisting to proclaim the majesty of africanamerican culture. Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of. Hes also, i hope, beloved for his work as a leading political activist for both communist and problack causes. See more ideas about black history, renaissance men and african american history. In a relatively short book, horne has captured the essence of paul robeson as both a domestic leader for african american equality, as well as an international icon promoting decolonization and socialism on a world stage. Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political activist.
Horne has made an amazing contribution to african american radical history with the newly published biography paul robeson. Paul robeson april 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was a multilingual american actor, athlete, bassbaritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, spingarn medal winner, and lenin peace prize laureate. Artist and citizen, recorded this commentary for the criterion collection in. Paul robeson galleries is located at express newarkrutgers university. Paul robeson was an american singer, actor, and civil rights activist. He also spoke about his book confronting black jacobins. Tribute toan artist 1979 body and soul 1925 borderline 1930 sanders of the river 1935 jericho 1937 the proud valley 1940 native land 1942. The son of an escaped slave, robeson managed to become a topbilled movie star during the time of jim crow america, headlining everything from fellow pioneer. The film was narrated by sidney poitier, and in the film it shows old footage of the late actor in various movies and entertainment shows before he was blackballed. The story of how an american icon was driven to death to be told in film.
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