- editor rating
-
2
- user rating
- genres
- sub-genres
- category
- Feature
- directed by
- countries
- USA
- released
- 1925
- run time
- 75 min.
- produced by
- Republic
(1925)
2
Craig Butler
Body and Soul is of much greater historical and cultural significance than of dramatic import. As an example of very early African-American filmmaking and of one kind of "race" picture created solely for the African-American audience, and as the cinematic debut of the powerful American actor and singer Paul Robeson, Body is invaluable for those with an interest in the cinema's background and development. But taken only as a film and stripped of its historical and cultural importance, Body has little to recommend it beyond the imposing performance of Robeson. Director/producer/writer Oscar Micheaux's screenplay is highly melodramatic and filled with characters that are too often caricatures and stereotypes; worse, the ending destroys what strengths the story may have had up to that point. Granted, that ending was basically forced upon Micheaux, but it doesn't change the fact that it blunts the impact considerably. There are some interesting notions about duality and hypocrisy, about power and people' willingness to be blind about facts, but these are nopt developed in any meaningful way. Micheaux' direction is equally problematic; the visuals are terribly static, with very little character movement. As if to compensate, Micheaux indulges in editing that comes across strictly as random: a lot of cuts but for little discernible meaning, often making the scenes confusing and unclear. Fortunately, there's Robeson, who even without the benefit of his glorious voice, towers over the production, lending it a stature and strength it doesn't truly deserve. There's also a fine performance by Mercedes Gilbert that helps to make up for the inept one from Julia Theresa Russell.
Body and Soul on AllMovie
Body and Soul (1925)
