Paul Robeson

Interesting, short documentary. The footage of the anti Robeson Peekskill rioting has especial impact in these MAGA soaked times. Also liked the way director Saul Turrell equates the evolution of "Old Man River" from lamentation to angry protest with Robeson's progression from performer to activist. My only criticism, and it's a somewhat major one, is that even in a 30 min short subject entitled "Tribute to an Artist" I would have liked at least something about Paul Robeson, human being. There is nothing. Give it a B.

An Academy Award winning documentary film short from 1979, written and directed by Saul J. Turell, which is about one of the most significant U. S. figures of the 20th century. Narrated by Sidney Poitier this is a brief biographical introduction to the singer, actor and political figure, who sang 'Old Man River' (and it's changing lyrics) throughout his life, was lauded for his performances as 'Othello', sang on loudspeakers on the Teruel battlefield during the Spanish Civil War in 1938, acted in films like 'The Emperor Jones' and 'The Proud Valley', read the actors tribute to Roosevelt in 1945, sang the Chinese national anthem (in Chinese), was caught up in a riot in Peekskill, New York in1949 ("Go back to Russia you n......"), was persecuted in the U. S. for his political views, and won a case against the U. S. State Department in 1958. Not bad as an intro, but we need a more comprehensive account of Robeson, either as documentary feature, or fiction feature.

"Most importantly, however, were the questions raised by the State Department as to my political opinions. Here is a question of whether one who wants to sing and act can have, as a citizen, political opinions. And, in attacking me, they suggested that when I was abroad, I spoke out against injustices to the Negro people in the United States. I certainly did. And the Supreme Court Justice just ruled, Judge Warren in the segregation cases, that world opinion had a lot to do with that ruling, that our children, negro children, can go to school like anybody else in the South. I'm very proud to have been a part of directing world opinion to precisely that condition."

I had goosebumps while watching much of this documentary short about Paul Robeson. It honors his life and his activism, and for that I give it a lot of credit. To hear him speak about his approach to playing Othello, to hear him sing 'Old Man River,' and to see his courage in the face of conservative backlash was inspiring. He was exceptionally intelligent and talented, and it's a shame that somewhat like Josephine Baker, he often had to leave America to be truly embraced.

As both a black man and a progressive to the point of strong communist sympathies, Robeson got a double dose of hatred upon returning to his country ("Go back to Russia, you n-word!"). The film broaches this but it was certainly a light treatment of the subject, steering clear of Robeson's actual beliefs, other than those involving Civil Rights. I think in that regard, it falls short, and perhaps it's because it was made when the Cold War was still active.

Regardless, to not comment at all on his anti-imperialist, pro-Union views, to not mention his outright praise of Stalin (argh) or his trips to the Soviet Union ("Here I am not a Negro but a human being for the first time in my life. I walk in full human dignity"), or include his stirring testimony in front of the HUAC was a mistake. Replying to Gordon Scherer, Republican Congressman from Ohio who asked him why he didn't stay in Russia, he said this: "Because my father was a slave, and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part of it just like you. And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?" I mean, god damn, I love this man. I would love to someday see a full-length documentary or dramatization of his life, but am happy for the little sample this film provided.

Paul Robeson was one of the greatest singers of his time. He got famous from belting out "Ol' Man River" from "Show Boat". When he sang for the pro-democracy side of the Spanish Civil War, he changed the lyrics to reflect the fight for justice. Sure enough, when McCarthyism kicked in, Robeson was one of the prime targets. He spent a decade disappeared, so to speak.

Saul J. Turell's Academy Award-winning "Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist" looks at Robeson's career and activism. Narrated by Sidney Poitier, it starts with his 1920s stage work and goes up to the late '50s. Although Robeson got the last laugh, we as a society still haven't done enough to atone for ruining his life (and the lives of countless others). Excellent documentary.

In the Peekskill scene, I noticed that a shop appeared to say Stanley Tucci. I wonder if it had a connection to the actor's family.

It's very sad that people that knew or admired Paul Robeson, do not provide from the very start of their narration the ultimate clue about Paul Robeson. Those friends and colleagues do not mention a simple fact that would be the best descriptive quality of this man. He was above all a great communist and everything he represents today originated from this fact. This avoidance of any clear reference on that, simply proves the self-censorship in USA today, as a result of that lack of freedom in social and political thinking and action. USA has never reinstated those thousands American Communists. There has never been an official condemnation of the political pursuits in the USA. And that was also not said in those documentaries.