For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The Silver Spring Library’s African American Film Circle will celebrate Black History Month with a screening of the 1925 classic “Body and Soul,” on Tuesday, February 27 at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Rd., beginning at 7 p.m.
Produced and directed by film pioneer Oscar Micheaux, the silent movie stars Paul Robeson. In the film, Robeson plays dual roles of a dastardly preacher and his good-hearted brother, both of whom wage a personal war for the body and soul of the heroine.
When the film was originally released, some newspapers blasted the depiction of the clergy and Micheaux even battled with the New York Censor Board over the controversial content. Robeson did not publicly speak of the film, because it offered a thinly veiled criticism of two Eugene O’Neill plays in which he had just starred.
An introductory segment features the historic censoring of the original film. The censored portions have been partially restored, and the film has English subtitles and a new jazz score.
The African American Film Circle meets regularly at the Silver Spring Library. For directions, visit Branches and Hours at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library.
For more information about this event, call 240-773-9420.