The Blood of Jesus (1941)

An atheist accidentally shoots his Baptist wife. She dies and goes to a crossroads, where the devil tries to lead her astray.

Director:

Spencer Williams

Writer:

Spencer Williams

Stars:

Cathryn Caviness, Spencer Williams, Juanita Riley

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cathryn Caviness	...	Sister Martha Ann Jackson
Spencer Williams	...	Razz Jackson
Juanita Riley	...	Sister Jenkins
Reather Hardeman	...	Sister Ellerby
Rogenia Goldthwaite	...	The Angel
James B. Jones	...	Satan (as Jas. B. Jones)
Frank H. McClennan	...	Judas Green
Eddie DeBase	...	Rufus Brown (as Eddie De Base)
Alva Fuller	...	Luke Williams
R.L. Robertson	...	(as Rev. R.L. Robertson)
The Heavenly Choir	...	Group Singers

Storyline

In the rural south of the United States, a godly young woman is accidently wounded by her unchurched husband. She succumbs to the injuries, whereupon a good angel bids her to journey with him to the Crossroads of Life. Before she can travel far, the devil lures her with the temptations of juke joints and the city. Can she regain the straight and narrow before it's too late? And what is to become of those she left behind?

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Plot Keywords:

joint | temptation | atheist | angel | baptist | 

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Taglines:

A Mighty Epic Of Modern Morals!

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

The Glory Road

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amegro Films, Sack Amusement Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 68 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1991.

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Connections

Featured in That's Black Entertainment (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Amazing Grace"
Lyrics by John Newton
Music traditional, arranged by William Walker
Arranged by Henry Thacker Burleigh
Sung in background during a baptism

User Reviews

A unique and fabulous film

Fabulous, in more than one sense of that word. A unique and wonderful film. Angels and other visions float in and out of a surreal Southern landscape. The acting is perfectly suited to what is clearly a director's film. The music includes lots of downhome spirituals, and some blues and jazz. The vaudeville scene, with that contortionist woman, is something else. The swing dancing in the jook joint also is terrific. The story is felt more than told. High artistry -- I might have to see it a few more times to really understand it. It also is marvelous to consider what Williams must have gone through to finance and make and promote and distribute this film. True art has a way of getting made and getting out there, somehow.