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Body and Soul
(1925) United States of America
B&W : Nine reels
Directed by Oscar Micheaux
Cast: Paul Robeson [Right Reverend Isiaah T. Jenkins; and Sylvester Jenkins, the reverend’s brother], Mercedes Gilbert [Isabelle], Julia Theresa Russell [Martha Jane, Isabelle’s mother], Lawrence Chenault [‘Yellow-Curley’ Hinds], Marshall Rodgers (Marshall Rogers) [the speakeasy owner], Chester A. Alexander [Deacon Simpkins], Walter Cornick [Brother Amos], Lillian Johnson [‘Sis’ Ca’line], Madame Robinson [‘Sis’ Lucy]
Micheaux Film Corporation production; distributed by Micheaux Film Corporation. / Produced by Oscar Micheaux. Scenario by Oscar Micheaux, from a novel by Oscar Micheaux. / Released [?] 15 November? 1925. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Robeson’s and Russell’s film debuts. The film was edited by Micheaux to five reels, with a reshot ending, to obtain a New York state censor board certificate; it appears likely that this was the version presented in Harlem, New York, New York, in November 1925. [?] Website-IMDb cast credits and release date are unreliable.
Drama.
Survival status: Prints exist [35mm positive (the eight-reel version)]; in the film holdings of Cohen Media Group (Raymond Rohauer collection) [35mm positive]; and in the George Eastman Museum film archive [16mm reduction positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: African-Americans - Alcohol - Alcoholism - Animals: Horses - Apartments - Attrition - Baskets: Washing - Bibles - Brooms - Buildings: Cabins (deserted), Churches, Houses, Office - Clocks - Crime: Murder, Rape, Theft - Death: Murder, Starvation - Deceit - Dreams - Dual roles - Exconvicts - Families: Mother-daughter relationships - Fences - Fights: Fist - Fires - Forgiveness - Fugitives - Furniture: Beds, Bureaus, Chairs, Tables - Gamblers - Gambling - Garages - Handwriting - Hats: Mens’, Womens’ - Inmates - Irons: Clothing - Jails - Letters - Marriages: Honeymoons - Money - Pain - Panoramas - Poles: Telephone - Poverty - Prisoners - Race film - Railroads: Stations, Tracks - Religion: Churches, Congregations, Elders, Preachers, Sermons - Roads: Country - Shoes: Mens’ - Slums - Street scenes - Threats - Torture - Transportation: Automobiles, Buggies, Trains - USA: Georgia: Atlanta - Violence - Weather: Lightning, Rain, Storms, Wind - Whips
Listing updated: 3 February 2025.
References: Film credits, film viewing : ClasIm-305 pp. 68, 72 : Documentary-Cram : Website-AFI; Website-GEM; Website-IMDb.
Home video: Blu-ray Disc, DVD.
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