Silent Film Released 101 Years Post Production
A never-before publicly seen silent
film featuring black actors and actresses has been rediscovered after
spending a decade in the Museum of Modern Art film archives. The untitled
film from 1913 is now the subject of a new exhibit at MOMA. It was never
produced in its time; finally, the film is earning some of the
attention that it deserves.
Today's exhibit at MOMA (running through March 2015) is called 100 Years In Post-Production: Resurrecting
A Lost Landmark of Black Film History. The exhibit tells the story
behind this silent film's production. The film features Bert Williams, one of
the most famous black actors/comedians of the Vaudeville
era. Similar to many other silent films, there is a picnic and
dancing and hope-fullness. However, there is one
clear dissimilarity when compared with history's other silent
films: An interracial cast. It is a romantic comedy which is
uplifting and unordinary for the time period.
The film is a gem because it
was created during a time when stereotypes and lynchings were the
norm. The storyline centers around actress Odessa Warren Grey, who
is courted by three different men. The film features a kiss
between Williams and Grey, which could be noted as "the first example
of such affection for black characters on film," said Ronald S. Magliozzi,
the organizer of the exhibition. Plus, Grey is not the only black woman to be portrayed as working, happy, and dating.
There are many special qualities about the film, especially the presence of
Bert William. He was the first black Broadway star, an actor in the famous Ziegfeld
Follies, and performed in blackface.
The film had a black director which
provides the film with even more legitimacy in regard to the portrayal of black culture at the time.
After I watched a clip of the actors performing a cakewalk, the
meaningfulness of the film became clear. It is truly full of history, culture,
and originality. It is like nothing that I have ever seen before, and I
hope to be able to see more. It is undeniably entertaining and provides insight into the
lives of African Americans from a century ago. I am excited for the film's
spotlight at MOMA because I want other people to have the opportunity to view and appreciate this masterpiece
.
I recommend watching the excerpts on the MOMA website to get
a sense of how remarkable the film is: http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1528
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ReplyDeleteThis film seems incredibly interesting, and very much ahead of its time. Typically blacks (who were actually whites in blackface) were either the villains in film (as seen in "Birth of a Nation") or they provided comic relief, but here they are portrayed in everyday life, which is incredibly refreshing. Also ahead of the curve is the interracial cast, which is an integral part of the film's importance, though I feel part of this message may be lost if the lead black actor, Bert Williams, is performing in blackface. Regardless, this is an amazing find in the MOMA archives that provides great insight into the early years of African Americans in film and black culture of the time as presented by blacks themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the film has black director facilitates more analysis. It would be interesting to know who this person was. Movies, as one is well aware, are an excellent tool for engaging a society. Thus, how deep did the director's agenda go? Prior to the film's shooting, it was only several decades prior that African-Americans were tied to the land. Scenes of black characters acting in the same ways as white actors had to spark discomfort. As the concept of discomfort, and how to work positively out of it to progress is continually brought up in discussions concerning the current climate of Rhodes College, it would be interesting to see if the director's intentions confirm the same fundamental concept.
ReplyDeleteI believed it would be interesting to look at the intent behind the film. For example who financed a production, that from your descriptions, could be deemed far ahead of its time with concerns to the interracial cast and expression of sexuality and gender role. Another question evoked by your description of the film was why was the film not released in the first place. I think this film offers good incite into a radial and though evoking film of the time. It serves as a hidden gem that can now be explored by all.
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