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Black Classic Movies

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Black Classic Movies

Theatrically released movies, artistically, culturally, or historically significant to the african-american community. Any african- american film, documentary, made-for-tv movie, television mini-series or cable movie can be seen right here.

Members: 7
Latest Activity: Sep 2, 2013

African American Films




Sadly, the creator of this group, Thirtygrand, has passed away. This is
dedicated to ...him.


List of African-American Films

The Blood of Jesus (1941) Description:  African-American director Spencer Williams wrote, produced and directed this movie featuring an all-black cast.  Spencer Williams was one of few, most prolific Black film directors of the 1940s. This film was made specifically for African-American audiences. Available on DVD: Yes

 

Boyz N the Hood (1991) Description: This movie won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture.  Also, African-American director John Singleton won the Best Director Academy Award for this movie.  Only 24 years old at the time, he became the youngest person ever (of any race) to win a Best Director Academy Award. Available on DVD: Yes

 

Carmen Jones (1954) Description: This is another, rare all-black cast movie that was made by a Hollywood studio in the 1950s. Carmen Jones is considered one of Dorothy Dandridge’s greatest movie roles.  She became the first African-American actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in this film. The cast includes many notable African-American actors and actresses such as Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll and Brock Peters. Available on DVD: Yes


 

Daughters of the Dust (1991) Description: This was the first movie directed by an African-American woman to be released in theatres nationally.  African-American director Julie Dash spent ten years doing research on the Gullah culture and gathering financial support to do this film.  She has also received many accolades for this movie’s beautiful cinematography. Available on DVD: Yes

 

Do the Right Thing (1989) Description: This is an impactful drama about race relations in a multi-ethnic Brooklyn, New York neighborhood.  African-American director, Spike Lee, wrote the screenplay in two weeks and also stars in the film. This critically-acclaimed movie is often mentioned as one of Spike Lee’s best films to date. Available on DVD: Yes


 

The Emperor Jones (1933) Description: This is considered one of Paul Robeson’s finest performances.  This movie broke many stereotypes of the time because it dared to show an African-American man who was strong and shrewd.  Many white theatres in the South refused to show this film unless the scenes showing Paul Robeson speaking harshly a white man were removed. Available on DVD: Yes

 

Gone With the Wind (1939) Description: This movie is controversial in the African-American community because of its depiction of Black Americans in the South.  However, it was a breakthrough performance for Hattie McDaniel that led to her winning the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in this film.  She was the first African-American to ever win an Academy Award. Available on DVD: Yes

 

Hoop Dreams (1994) Description: This documentary took over five years to complete and allowed viewers an intimate peek into the lives who two young African-American men who aspired to become professional basketball players.  Never before had a documentary provided such an intimate view of the real struggles and triumphs of two young, inner-city Black men. Available on DVD: Yes  


 

Imitation of Life (1934) Description: During the 1930s, it was rare to see an African-American woman who wasn’t a stereotypical mammy figure.  This movie broke new ground because of the multiple relationships that were portrayed – between Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert (women of different races) and between Louise Beavers and Fredi Washington (mother and daughter). Available on DVD: Yes

 

In the Heat of the Night (1967) Description: “They call me Mister Tibbs!” is a famous line that originated from this film. Racial bigotry is explored one-on-one when a Northern black detective has to help solve a murder with a Southern white bigot.  Quincy Jones did the music score and was nominated for a Grammy Award.  Available on DVD: Yes


 

Jeffries-Johnson World’s Championship Boxing Contest (1910) Description: This film shows the fight that ultimately resulted in Jack Johnson becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.  Historically and socially, it was a momentous occasion for African-Americans because of the racial nature of the fight between a Black and a White man. This victory became a source of racial pride in the African-American community. Available on DVD: No

 

Killer of Sheep (1977) Description:This film, by African-American director, Charles Burnett, is considered a cultural cinematic classic.  Shot in the 1970s on a very small budget, Killer of Sheep poetically dramatizes the life of a man named Stan who works long hours at a slaughterhouse in Watts, California.  The film was never released theatrically because of problems with getting music rights, but was shown underground in churches and museums.  It contains over 22 songs from many African-American musical greats like Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong and Earth, Wind & Fire. Available on DVD: Yes


 

King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis (1970) Description: This documentary chronicles one of the most important times and figures in African-American history.  It contains archival footage of Dr. Martin Luther King’s life from the bus boycott in 1955 to his assassination in 1968. Available on DVD: No

 

 

The Learning Tree (1969) Description:  This was the first feature film directed by an African-American director that was also funded by a major studio.  African-American Gordon Parks wrote and directed this movie.  The story is based on his own life growing up in a small town in Kansas. Available on DVD: No

 

 

Superfly (1972) Description: Priest (Ron O’Neal) is a prince of the streets, a charismatic businessman who wants out of cocaine-dealing. But a mysterious kingpin doesn’t want Priest to change his ways. And that triggers murder, revenge and double-crosses that push Priest into a corner – and heat the neighborhood to flashpoint. Superfly is one the more enduring streetwise films of its era, due to the dynamic central performance of Ron O’Neal, the sizzling score by Curtis Mayfield and the gritty direction of the late Gordon Parks, Jr. Available on DVD: Yes


 

Nothing But a Man (1964) Description: This independent film was one of the few movies of the 1960s to show an African-American man with enormous emotional depth and strength.  It realistically captures the human side of racial prejudice in the Deep South. It also warmly tells a love story between an African-American man and woman.  This film was the only American competitive entry in the Venice film festival in 1964, and it won two awards – the Prix San Giorgio and the City of Venice Prize. Available on DVD: Yes


 

A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Description:  Written by African-American playwright, Lorraine Hansberry, this powerful, dramatic movie was a successful, long-running stage play before becoming a movie.  It stars some of the greatest African-American actors of all time – Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands and Louis Gossett Jr. Available on DVD: Yes


 

 

Shaft (1971) Description: Directed by African-American director, Gordon Parks, Shaft is credited with ushering in the blaxploitation film era.  It also broke new film ground with its on-screen portrayal of a Black man who was fearless, smart and sexy.  Isaac Hayes wrote and produced the soundtrack for Shaft. He won an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for the theme song. Available on DVD: Yes


 

Show Boat (1936) Description: African-American actors Paul Robeson and Hattie McDaniel are featured in this movie.  This was the first popular film to depict Black roles that were as important as the White roles.  Paul Robeson sings, “Ol’ Man River” which many consider to be one of the best scenes in the entire movie. Available on DVD: No

 

 

St. Louis Blues (1929) Description: This movie depicts the life of famous African-American composer, W.C. Handy, who is known as the father of jazz music. St. Louis Blues is another rare, all-black cast film made during the early 1920s.  It also contains performances by famous African-American singers and musicians such as Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson and Cab Calloway. Available on DVD: No

 

Stormy Weather (1943) Description: A virtual Who’s Who of African-American stars appear in this film – Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, the Nicholas Brothers, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller… the list goes on.  This was an all-black cast film and excerpts of some of the outstanding performances in this movie are still referred to today. Available on DVD: Yes


 

Within Our Gates (1920) Description:  This is the oldest known surviving African-American film directed by pioneering African-American film director, Oscar Micheaux.  He made this film in reaction to D.W. Griffith’s film, Birth of a Nation, which showed the Klu Klux Klan as heroes of the South.  It is also historically important because it depicts a time after World War I when racism and lynchings were still rampant. Available on DVD: Yes

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Discussion Forum

Black Cinema-The Blaxploitation Era

Started by Edie Antoinette. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Sep 2, 2010. 9 Replies

Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975)

Started by Queen B. Last reply by Queen B Oct 15, 2009. 7 Replies

Cotton Comes To Harlem

Started by Edie Antoinette Feb 25, 2008. 0 Replies

Comment Wall

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Comment by Edie Antoinette on March 1, 2009 at 4:21pm
Welcome to the group Saint. Thirtygrand did a wonderful job here before he passed away. He would be happy to read your comment I'm sure.
Comment by Saint on March 1, 2009 at 2:18pm
Great post. Daughters of the Dust, which was filmed near my home, and Stormy Weather are two of my favorite films.. Cabin in the Sky has some great numbers as well..."it's consequences what counts". Peace, Saint
Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 14, 2009 at 8:09am
Musicman, Thirtygrand died last year--I wrote it up at the top.
Comment by Edie Antoinette on January 22, 2009 at 8:29pm
Welcome aboard Michelle..
Comment by Edie Antoinette on January 12, 2009 at 10:10pm
Yes, me too...Classics I tell ya!!!
Comment by Tonya Anderson on January 11, 2009 at 7:59am
OMG!! My mother has some of these movies in her stack of VHS Tapes in the family room.
 

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12/46 - 09/24

Entr'acte



  1. play Norman Brown — Night Drive
  2. play Norman Brown — Feeling
  3. play Norman Brown — Still
  4. play Miles Davis — miles 1
  5. play miles 2
  6. play miles 3
  7. play miles 4
  8. play miles 5
  9. play Marvin Gaye — I Met A Little Girl
  10. play Santana — 01 Singing Winds, Crying Beasts
  11. play Santana — 02 Black Magic Woman-Gypsy Queen
  12. play Mongo — 02. Afro Blue


The history of the Butlers/Raw Soul is dense, but for all of us music nerds, that's normal. It is not totally clear what year the Butlers actually formed but they released their first single in 1963 on Liberty Records. That single was "She Tried To Kiss Me" and another single followed on Guyden entitled "Lovable Girl." After the Guyden single the Butlers took a break not recording another record until the single "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" was released on the Phila label in 1966. The group also backed Charles Earland and Jean Wells on one Phila single ("I Know She Loves Me"). 


As you might be noticing, the Butlers were doing a fair amount of recording but not achieving much success. The group's recordings sold regionally but never had the promotion to make an impact on the national scene. After the single with Phila, the Butlers moved to the Fairmount label (part of the Cameo-Parkway family) and released a handful of singles, some being reissued singles of the past. The Butlers were with Fairmount for 1966-67 and then moved to Sassy Records. Sassy released the group's greatest single (in my opinion) "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" b/w "If That's What You Wanted." A copy of that 45 sold for just under $500 last summer on eBay. Even though that isn't that much in the world of record collecting--it's still a hefty sum. The Butlers released another single on Sassy ("She's Gone" b/w "Love Is Good") that appears to be even 
harder to come by then the "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" single.

 

The true history become a bit blurred here as the AMG biography states that the Butlers last record was released on C.R.S. in 1974 (". However, between 1971 and that single, Frankie Beverly formed a group called Raw Soul and released a number of singles. Some of the songs recorded by Beverly during this period are "While I'm Alone," "Open Up Your Heart," (both on the Gregor label) and "Color Blind." "Color Blind" was released by the Eldorado label and rerecorded by Maze. Beverly's big break came when Marvin Gaye asked Raw Soul to back him on a tour. Gaye helped Beverly/Raw Soul get a contract at Capitol. Beverly decided to take the group in a different direction, a name change occurred, and Maze was created. 

The above isn't the most complete history of Beverly but hopefully someone will know a way to get in touch with the man or his management because a comprehensive pre-Maze history needs to be done on Frankie Beverly (his real name is Howard, by the way). Below you'll find every Frankie Beverly (pre-Maze) song available to me right now ("Color Blind" will be up soon). 

If you have a song that is not included below, shoot it over to funkinsoulman (at) yahoo.com and it will go up in the next Frankie Beverly post (later this week--highlighting Maze). Also, if you have any more information please share your knowledge. The Butlers material has been comp-ed sporadically (usually imports) but the entire Maze catalog has been reissued and is available. 

Enjoy.  "She Kissed Me" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967) 
 
 "I Want To Feel I'm Wanted" (not sure which label or year) "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" (Phila, 1966) "Because Of My Heart" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)
   
 "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" (Sassy, 1967)
   
 "If That's What You Wanted" (Sassy, 1967)
 



Frankie Beverly is one of those cats that has lasting power. He started in the music business doing a tour with doo wop group the Silhouettes and then formed his own group called the Blenders. The Blenders never recorded a single, Beverly wouldn't appear on wax until forming the Butlers a few years later. Along with Beverly, the Butlers included Jack "Sonny" Nicholson, Joe Collins, John Fitch, and Talmadge Conway.

Beverly would later enjoy great success fronting Maze and Conway would become a
well-known penning Double Exposure's
"Ten Percent" and the Intruders' "Memories Are Here To Stay." 
 While Maze is a phenomenal group, Beverly's work before that group will always stand out as his best (imo).
The Butlers produced tunes that most Northern Soul fans would kill for and Raw Soul gave the funksters something to pursue. The Butlers recorded their first single in 1960 titled "Loveable Girl". Left to right John Fitch, T Conway, Frankie Beverly, Sonny Nicholson and Joe Collins. 

12/6/46 - 9/10/24

Power...Through Simplicity ♪♫♪

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