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Kuolonrumpu

Original title: The Emperor Jones
  • 19331933
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Paul Robeson in Kuolonrumpu (1933)
DramaMusic
Unscrupulously ambitious Brutus Jones escapes from jail after killing a guard and through bluff and bravado finds himself the emperor of a Caribbean island.Unscrupulously ambitious Brutus Jones escapes from jail after killing a guard and through bluff and bravado finds himself the emperor of a Caribbean island.Unscrupulously ambitious Brutus Jones escapes from jail after killing a guard and through bluff and bravado finds himself the emperor of a Caribbean island.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Dudley Murphy
    • William C. de Mille(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill(play "The Emperor Jones")
    • DuBose Heyward(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Paul Robeson
    • Dudley Digges
    • Frank H. Wilson
  • Directors
    • Dudley Murphy
    • William C. de Mille(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill(play "The Emperor Jones")
    • DuBose Heyward(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Paul Robeson
    • Dudley Digges
    • Frank H. Wilson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos12

    "Emperor Jones" Paul Robeson 1933 United Artists **I.V.
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Paul Robeson in Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Paul Robeson in Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Paul Robeson in Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Kuolonrumpu (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Robeson
    Paul Robeson
    • Brutus Jones
    Dudley Digges
    Dudley Digges
    • Smithers
    Frank H. Wilson
    • Jeff
    • (as Frank Wilson)
    Fredi Washington
    Fredi Washington
    • Undine
    Ruby Elzy
    • Dolly
    George Haymid Stamper
    • Lem
    • (as George Stamper)
    Brandon Evans
    • Carrington
    • (uncredited)
    Taylor Gordon
    • Stick-man
    • (uncredited)
    Billie Holiday
    Billie Holiday
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Rex Ingram
    Rex Ingram
    • Court Crier
    • (uncredited)
    James P. Johnson
    • Pianist
    • (uncredited)
    Moms Mabley
    Moms Mabley
    • Marcella
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Nicholas
    Harold Nicholas
    • Young Tap Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Blueboy O'Connor
    • Treasurer
    • (uncredited)
    Fritz Pollard
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Lorenzo Tucker
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Dudley Murphy
      • William C. de Mille(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill(play "The Emperor Jones")
      • DuBose Heyward(screenplay) (additional scenes)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Fredi Washington had to reshoot her scenes wearing dark make-up when the Hays Office deemed her as appearing too light-skinned in the first rushes. They feared audiences would think Paul Robeson was embracing a white actress.
    • Goofs
      When Jones lands on a Caribbean island, there are prickly pear and San Pedro cacti on the beach, neither of which are found in the Caribbean.
    • Quotes

      Brutus Jones: [With bravado] It takes a silver bullet to kill Brutus Jones.

    • Alternate versions
      The 72-minute version has different opening credits. In the original version, the title reads "The Emperor Jones" in uppercase (capital) letters. In later prints of this film, including the 72-minute version nearly always screened on TV, the title reads merely "Emperor Jones" , in lowercase letters.
    • Connections
      Featured in Vippaa mulle viitonen (1975)
    • Soundtracks
      Now Let Me Fly
      (uncredited)

      Traditional American spiritual

      Sung by the church patrons and Paul Robeson

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    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.
    helpful•6
    1
    • JohnHowardReid
    • Jul 14, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 12, 1936 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Emperor Jones
    • Filming locations
      • Eastern Service Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • John Krimsky and Gifford Cochran Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $250,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Paul Robeson in Kuolonrumpu (1933)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Kuolonrumpu (1933) officially released in Canada in English?
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