In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema

Sep 15, 2007

0h 59m

★ 6.5

The true story of a lost era.

Overview

This documentary captures the sounds and images of a nearly forgotten era in film history when African American filmmakers and studios created “race movies” exclusively for black audiences. The best of these films attempted to counter the demeaning stereotypes of black Americans prevalent in the popular culture of the day. About 500 films were produced, yet only about 100 still exist. Filmmaking pioneers like Oscar Micheaux, the Noble brothers, and Spencer Williams, Jr. left a lasting influence on black filmmakers, and inspired generations of audiences who finally saw their own lives reflected on the silver screen.

Genres

Documentary

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Narrator

Lawrence Varnado

Himself

Herb Jeffries

Herself

Ruby Dee

Herself

Jeni Le Gon

Himself

Leroy Collins

Herself

Pearl Bowser

Working men and women leave through the main gate of the Lumière factory in Lyon, France. Filmed on 22 March 1895, it is often referred to as the first real motion picture ever made, although Louis Le Prince's 1888 Roundhay Garden Scene pre-dated it by seven years. Three separate versions of this film exist, which differ from one another in numerous ways. The first version features a carriage drawn by one horse, while in the second version the carriage is drawn by two horses, and there is no carriage at all in the third version. The clothing style is also different between the three versions, demonstrating the different seasons in which each was filmed. This film was made in the 35 mm format with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, and at a speed of 16 frames per second. At that rate, the 17 meters of film length provided a duration of 46 seconds, holding a total of 800 frames.

No Image Available

7.2

Comrades in Dreams

Oct 15, 2006

Four lives that could not be more different and a single passion that unites them: the unconditional love for their cinemas, somewhere at the end of the world. Comrades in Dreams brings together six cinema makers from North Korea, America, India and Africa and follows their efforts to make their audiences dream every night.

6.1

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet at Work on a Film Based on Franz Kafka’s Amerika

Nov 13, 1983

This film is at once a self-portrait and an homage to Jean-Marie Straub, Farocki's role model and former teacher at the Film Academy.

7.4

Sid & Judy

Jun 26, 2019

Explore the dramatic career and personal struggles of the talented and tragically short-lived entertainer Judy Garland through rare concert footage, never-heard-before voice recordings and personal photos.

No Image Available

5.0

Tax Shelter Terrors

Dec 31, 2017

The first feature-length documentary that fully explores how the toxic social and political Canadian context after 1968 created some of the most nihilistic and imaginative Canadian cult films of the 1970s and 80s and beyond.

7.8

Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy

Oct 18, 2018

Crownsville Hospital: From Lunacy to Legacy is a feature-length documentary film highlighting the history of the Crownsville State Mental Hospital in Crownsville, MD.

5.9

Heckler

Nov 4, 2007

HECKLER is a comedic feature documentary exploring the increasingly critical world we live in. After starring in a film that was critically bashed, Jamie Kennedy takes on hecklers and critics and ask some interesting questions of people such as George Lucas, Bill Maher, Mike Ditka, Rob Zombie, Howie Mandel and many more. This fast moving, hilarious documentary pulls no punches as you see an uncensored look at just how nasty and mean the fight is between those in the spotlight and those in the dark.

6.4

Decasia: The State of Decay

Jan 24, 2002

A meditation on the human quest to transcend physicality, constructed from decaying archival footage and set to an original symphonic score.

No Image Available

0.0

Alex to the Max: The Making of Max Keeble's Big Move

Invalid Date

This documentary treats movie fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Max Keeble's Big Move, about a young boy who uses his imminent move to another town as his big chance for revenge on everyone who's tormented him, only to have his plan backfire. Included are interviews with the cast and crew who talk about the experience of making the film, as well as all of the effort that went into it.

8.5

Rif 1921, una historia olvidada

Jul 24, 2008

Manuel Horrillo has visited for 7 years the fields where the clashes between the Spanish troops and the rebels of the protectorate took place during the so-called Rif War, a forgotten war of the Spanish collective imaginary.

No Image Available

0.0

The Movie Movie

Jun 30, 1986

The Movie Movie shows how the camera, editing techniques, make-up and sound can be used in film and video to deliberately manipulate our perceptions and emotions. Drama, action and slapstick humour are combined in a simple, family-oriented plot. There is no dialogue, but there is an explanatory song. Behind-the-scenes vignettes highlight the message that in a movie everything is not quite as it seems.

6.5

Here and Elsewhere

Sep 15, 1976

Here and Elsewhere takes its name from the contrasting footage it shows of the fedayeen and of a French family watching television at home. Originally shot by the Dziga Vertov Group as a film on Palestinian freedom fighters, Godard later reworked the material alongside Anne-Marie Miéville.

0.0

The Art of Illusion: 100 Years of Hollywood Special Effects

Jan 6, 1997

A history of movie magic from 1895 to 1995, showing primitive effects used in such films as "A Trip to the Moon" up to the state of the art effects used in "Apollo 13" and "The Abyss."

7.1

Filmworker

May 11, 2018

The story of Leon Vitali, who surrendered his promising acting career to become Stanley Kubrick's devoted right-hand man.

No Image Available

0.0

John Huston War Stories

Sep 3, 1999

During World War II, the propaganda engine of the U.S. government made a pivotal decision with unforeseeable results: they tapped John Huston to shoot war documentaries with an expressly patriotic spin. Few could guess the degree to which Huston's documentaries would depict the sheer brutality and horror of modern warfare - particularly his Let There Be Light and The Battle of San Pietro. The films served (by default) as cinematic protests, even as they graced new and brilliant heights within the scope of American documentary. (Indeed, Light was banned by the government for 35 years). Midge Mackenzie's 1998 documentary John Huston: War Stories explores this little known facet of Huston's career, intercutting clips from the various documentaries with a Huston interview shot just prior to his death.

0.0

Hollywood's Master of Myth: Joseph Campbell - The Force Behind Star Wars

Jul 18, 1999

Documentary charting the contribution to Hollywood movies made by writer Joseph Campbell, whose ideas about mythic structure helped shape Star Wars.

7.5

Almodóvar, todo sobre ellas

Sep 11, 2016

When looking at Pedro Almodóvar’s filmography, it becomes evident that women are everywhere; in fact, his work revolves around them. His divas are the best to create a real portrait of Almodóvar and evoke the emotional power of his films. These women are the ideal observers of a cinematic career that, from La Mancha to Hollywood, has changed the image of Spain in the world.

7.1

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

Mar 9, 2003

The chronicle of the mind-blowing journey that was Hollywood during the seventies; the true and gripping story of the last golden age of American cinema, an exalted celebration of creativity and experimentation; but also of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll: a turbulent and dark tale of ambition, envy, betrayal, hatred and self-destruction.

7.0

Fritz Lang, le cercle du destin - Les films allemands

Apr 28, 2004

No overview available.

10.0

Showbiz Goes to War

Dec 31, 1982

While a few Hollywood celebrities such as James Stewart and Clark Gable saw combat during World War II, the majority used their talents to rally the American public through bond sales, morale-boosting USO tours, patriotic war dramas and escapist film fare. Comedian David Steinberg plays host for this star-studded, 90-minute documentary, which looks at the way Tinseltown helped the United States' war effort.

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema

Overview

Genres

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema Trailers