The Green Pastures (1936)

God, heaven, and several Old Testament stories, including the Creation and Noah's Ark, are described supposedly using the perspective of rural, black Americans.

Directors:

Marc Connelly, William Keighley

Writers:

Roark Bradford (suggested by: Southern Sketches "Ol' Man Adam and His Chillun'"), Marc Connelly (a fable by)

Stars:

Rex Ingram, Oscar Polk, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rex Ingram	...	De Lawd / Adam / Hezdrel
Oscar Polk	...	Gabriel
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Noah (as Eddie Anderson)
Frank H. Wilson	...	Moses (as Frank Wilson)
George Reed	...	Mr. Deshee
Abraham Gleaves	...	Archangel
Myrtle Anderson	...	Eve
Al Stokes	...	Cain
Edna Mae Harris	...	Zeba (as Edna M. Harris)
James Fuller	...	Cain the Sixth
George Randol	...	High Priest
Ida Forsyne	...	Noah's Wife
Ray Martin	...	Shem
Charles Andrews	...	Flatfoot (as Chas. Andrews)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Ham

Storyline

God, heaven, and several Old Testament stories, including the Creation and Noah's Ark, are described supposedly using the perspective of rural, black Americans.

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Plot Keywords:

depiction of god | based on the bible | black cast | color in title | african american | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway stage production won the 1930 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It opened February 26, 1930, at the Mansfield Theatre in New York, and ran for 640 performances. Juanita Hall, who later played "Bloody Mary" in the stage and film versions of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's classic South Pacific (1958), appeared in the original stage production.

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Goofs

One of Noah's son's rides a zebra that is clearly a donkey or mule made to look like a zebra. Two real zebras are loaded while he rides the fake.

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Quotes

Gabriel: Gangway for the lord god, Jehovah!

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Connections

Referenced in Sanford and Son: Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three (1972)

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Soundtracks

Lord, I Don't Feel Noways Tired
(uncredited)
Traditional spiritual from Hampton and Its Students (1872)
Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir

User Reviews

One of a Kind

The Green Pastures enacts Old Testament Bible stories as seen through the eyes of rural black children. The movie begins in a ramshackle church, generations ago, presumably in the Deep South. As the Sunday School teacher relates the Bible stories we are transported to Heaven to witness the Creation, the Banishment from the Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the Exodus. An all-black cast, speaking in the rural idiom, and set in modern day (1930s) surroundings makes for one of the most unique movies you will ever see.

All the pieces fit together perfectly. It's a joy to watch, deeply spiritual, and the gospel choir accompaniment is an added treat. Grade A.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auf grüner Aue

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1