The Negro Soldier (1944)

Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.

Director:

Stuart Heisler (as Capt. Stuart Heisler)

Writer:

Carlton Moss

Stars:

Clyde Turner, Carlton Moss, William Broadus

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Clyde Turner	...	Soloist in church (as Sgt. Clyde Turner)
Carlton Moss	...	Minister
William Broadus	...	Jim
Bertha Woolford	...	Mrs. Bronson (as Bertha Wolford)
Norman Ford	...	Lt. Robert E. Bronson (as Lt. Norman Ford)
Clarence Brooks	...	Chaplain
Joe Louis	...	Self (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gertrude Elise Ayer	...	Self - Principal (archive footage)
Richmond Barthé	...	Self - Sculptor (archive footage) (as Richard Barthe)
Erich Borchmeyer	...	Self (archive footage)
Dean Dixon	...	Self - Conductor (archive footage)
W.C. Handy	...	Self (archive footage)
Matthew Henson	...	Self - Polar Explorer (archive footage)
Adolf Hitler	...	Self (archive footage)
Cornelius Johnson	...	Self (archive footage)

Storyline

Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.

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Plot Keywords:

african american | race relations | world war one | world war two | war memorial | 

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Taglines:

America's Joe Louis vs. The Axis!

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film production crew visited over 19 (some sources state 30) military bases across the United States in 1943.

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Quotes

Minister: Every man ready to do his share. The engineers, the fighting builders, ready to build bridges, highways, railroads, ports, landing fields. The quartermaster, who moves troops and supplies, who provides the food, fuel and clothing. The men who supply the means of communication - telegraph, telephone and radio. The calvary, ready to patrol, scout and harass.

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Alternate Versions

According to government documents, a two-reel shortened version of the film was released in July 1944.

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Connections

Featured in Classified X (1998)

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Soundtracks

Stars and Stripes Forever
(1897)
Composed by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

Well-made propaganda film

A US World War 2 propaganda film, showing how African-American soldiers are helping the Allied cause.

A well-made propaganda film. Quite stirring in showing the contribution African-Americans had made to previous wars and were making to the current war, World War 2. Made to convince African-Americans to join up and help win the war it does well to paper over the race-based social divide that existed in the US at the time.

Quite sad in the respect in that, while it was okay for African-Americans to fight and die for their country, they were treated as second class citizens at home, with less rights than whites. Just the fact that the film had to be made is a sad reflection of the times.

This said, it is very effective in its purpose and is even quite emotional at times. Some good military footage too.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Negro Soldier

Box Office

Budget:

$78,254 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

U.S. War Department

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1