This Paul Robeson vehicle is based on a Eugene O'Neill play that I'm guessing is rarely performed nowadays. It might have been progressive at the time, but nowadays the entire thing comes off as unbearably racist. All black people do is fight, gamble and murder each other while repeatedly uttering the word "gwyne" (as in the sentence "I'm gwyne to roll me some craps!"). So I have to admit to really liking King Vidor's Hallelujah from four years earlier. It contains all of the same stereotypes, yet it works for me. I can't say why this one felt so much more cringe-worthy. Perhaps it was the fact that I could only understand about 25% of the dialogue, as the soundtrack doesn't seem to have survived very well. Or perhaps I just know Robeson has more in him than this. It's mostly only worthwhile when Robeson sings, which is, as always, majestic.
I should say that the version I saw was the public domain one on Netflix Instant, not the Criterion DVD, which might improve the film. For the record, I very much like Robeson in Jericho and King Solomon's Mine, and would highly recommend them.
I should say that the version I saw was the public domain one on Netflix Instant, not the Criterion DVD, which might improve the film. For the record, I very much like Robeson in Jericho and King Solomon's Mine, and would highly recommend them.