(1937)
2.5
Craig Butler
Jericho is an intriguing, uneven and ultimately unsatisfying drama, but it's worth catching for the chance to see Paul Robeson in a role that lets him hold center stage and demonstrate the considerable power he had at his disposal. The basic story behind Jericho has promise, concerning as it does a man wrongfully convicted of killing his superior officer and how his decision to flee and live a life of his own destroys the life of the man who vouched for him. And the screenplay does provide a rare instance from the period of a true multicultural situation, with people of several different colors relating in a manner that is unusual for the time. (It also has some interesting things to say about war and the manner in which war affects those who must fight in it.) Unfortunately, the writing is decidedly uneven; too often heavy melodramatics mar what might have been genuinely affecting dramatic moments. Robeson is given several moments to display his incredible rich baritone in the movie, and while these are not necessarily as well integrated into the piece as one might wish, they stand alone as impressive moments. Robeson throughout dominates the movie, acting with power and assurance and commanding attention even in his quietest moments. He carries the film with grace and confidence; it may not be a perfect vehicle, but he drives it as if it were the cream of the crop.
Jericho on AllMovie
Jericho (1937)
