The Emperor Jones (1933)

Director:

Dudley Murphy

Writers:

Eugene O'Neill (play)
DuBose Heyward (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 September 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

At a Baptist prayer meeting, the preacher leads a prayer for Brutus Jones, who is leaving to become a railway porter...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Porter | Train | Partnership | Emperor

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Paul Robeson	...	Brutus Jones
Dudley Digges	...	Smithers
Frank H. Wilson	...	Jeff (as Frank Wilson)
Fredi Washington	...	Undine
Ruby Elzy	...	Dolly
George Haymid Stamper	...	Lem (as George Stamper)

Runtime:

72 min | 76 min (2003 restored version) | USA:80 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A | Canada:G (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #1316-R, 29 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:(Banned) (1934) | Finland:K-16 (1936)

Filming Locations:

Eastern Service Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

John Krimsky and Gifford Cochran Inc.

Trivia:

In his autobiography, Paul Robeson said he regretted making the film because it deviated too much from the play.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Ethnic Notions (1986)

Soundtrack:

Daniel

Oddly, the O'Neill Climax Is Not As Effective As Heyward's Prologue

Not a great deal of the O'Neill play is retained in this adaptation, and I thought that climax was the least effective portion of the film despite its tinted visuals and stereo sound effects. The preceding 45 minutes, enhanced by Robeson's virile presence and his superlative singing, were much more impressive. Just about every scene took place at night where Haller's noirish photography contributed to the fascinating atmosphere.

Once we arrive on the island, however, and are confronted by Dudley Digges as a stage Cockney and other theatrical contrivances, the narrative's admirably headlong pace not only slows down considerably, but the movie itself starts to fall apart—although we still have some great moments as the vain Jones takes over the kingship and attempts to bleed the natives white.