#372: KORDA, Zoltán: Sanders Of The River (1935) / FREELAND, Thornton: Jericho (1937)

PAUL ROBESON: PORTRAITS OF THE ARTIST {Spine #369}

KORDA, Zoltán (United States)

Sanders Of The River [1935]

FREELAND, Thornton (United Kingdom)
Jericho [1937]

Spine #372
DVD

Seeking out new avenues for his artistry, Paul Robeson moved his family to London in 1928. During the next twelve years, he headlined six British films, pioneering uncharted trritory for black actors and reaching a level of prominence unthinkable in Hollywood. Robeson's first British production, Zoltán Korda's Sanders of the River, however, ended up being an embarrassment for the actor, its story of an African tribal leader transformed into a celebration of the British Empire. As a result, Robeson sought more artistic control, eventually achieving it with Jericho, which features Robeson in what turned out to be his most satisfying film role, as a World War I officer who escapes his fate as a black man by fleeing to Africa and creating a new world for himself.

Sanders Of The River

87 minutes

Jericho

75 minutes

Black & White

Monaural

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2007

Director/Writers

Korda

Sanders of the River

Based on the novel by Edgar Wallace.

Scenario, continuity and dialogue by Lajos Biró and Jeffrey Dell.

Zoltán Korda was 40 when he directed Sanders of the River.

Other Zoltán Korda films in the Collection:

Eclipse Series 30: The Drum (1938)
#583: The Four Feathers (1939)
Eclipse Series 30: Jungle Book (1942)

The Film

Sanders of the River announces its colonialist, xenophobic, racist intent with the very first supertitle:

“AFRICA: Tens of millions of natives under British rule, each tribe with its own chieftan, governed and protected by a handful of white men whose everyday work is an unsung saga of courage and efficiency.”

It’s not hard to imagine how Robeson was fooled into believing this was about Black empowerment; as an actor in 1935, even with the best intentions, he could not have foreseen how the whole thing would be put together with the primary purpose of showing the great power and might of the British Empire.

As entertainment, it partially succeeds; a good story, Robeson’s chieftan becoming a king — subservient to the English king, of course. And to his “lord” Sandy …

Leslie Banks is Sanders, a trope of the White man’s good intentions, if ever there was one. He even miraculously recovers from a bad case of malaria — just in time to save his friend, Bosambo (Robeson) and his wife, Lilongo (Nina Mae McKinney) — a light-skinned Black, just light enough to entice a White audience.

The whole affair is a disgrace, from the ridiculous song Robeson sings beautifully to the completely irrelevant — but obligatory — shots of African wildlife as seen from a low-flying airplane.

The Extras

The Booklet

76-page booklet:

• A Modern Man, by Clement Alexander Price
• Constructing an Image by Deborah Willis.
• Cast and Credits
• About the Transfers

Willis:

“Robeson had initially been excited about Sanders of the River, especially when discussions with British producer Alexander Korda led him to believe that he would portray an African leader with integrity, and that the research conducted by Korda would give viewers an understanding of the roots of African culture. Through the directness of cinema, Robeson felt the music and dance of Africa could be less exoticized and better understood by the public … however, the result was less revelatory than he had hoped. Robeson eventually denounced the finished film because it glorified colonialism in Africa.”

Commentary

None.

Jericho

Director/Writers 

Original story by Walter Futter.

Scenario by George Barraud.

Adaptation by Robert N. Lee and Peter Ruric.

Thornton Freeland was 39 when he directed Jericho.

Freeland

The Film

Unlike Sanders, there’s not a racist bone in this film’s body.

Far ahead of its time, Jericho portrays the Black lead as a real human being — flawed, self-destructive at times — but filled with love and grace — and that voice!

He sings several songs throughout the film (including Shortnin’ Bread), but the leitmotif song which runs throughout the film is My Way (not the Sinatra version!) …

Henry Wilcoxon is Captain Mack, who is — unknowingly by Jericho — horribly wronged by the wartime military justice. His Captain Ahab-type pursuit of Jericho is brought to a rousing, satisfying conclusion.

Wallace Ford is Mike, Jericho’s White American friend. From the moment they meet, it is clearly shown that Jericho is in charge, and Mike just naturally accepts it as fact. For 1937, this had to be an unusual thing to see.

Princess Kouka is Gara, Jericho’s beautiful wife who first fed and sheltered him when he fled to the Saharan desert.

Speaking of the desert, the filming of the Salt Caravan — a major plot point — is also a visual feast. It is a unique aspect of the film that there is a film unit embedded in the caravan — making a film within a film!

**

Having to rate the two films in this DVD together posits an uncomfortable feeling. Sanders pulls down the overall rating, which would be higher if Jericho was a solo feature.

Film Rating (0-60):

53

The Extras

The Booklet

76-page booklet:

• A Modern Man, by Clement Alexander Price
• Constructing an Image by Deborah Willis.
• Cast and Credits
• About the Transfers

Willis:

“Because he was able to retain almost complete editorial control over it, Jericho was Robeson’s self-proclaimed proudest moment as a film actor. The film is as upstanding and biblical as its title, signifying victory, triumph, oasis, and destruction. Starring as World War I American soldier, Jericho Jackson, Robeson himself can be viewed as a gateway to the ‘promised land.’ His strength, height, and humane persona all are inseparable from the character he portrays: a black corporal, a medical student, a humanitarian, a healer among his troops.”

Commentary

None.

True Pioneer: The British Films of Paul Robeson

With Paul Robeson, Jr., Ian Christie and Stephen Bourne.

Excellent survey of all his British films (including several not in this set: Song of Freedom [1936]; Big Fella [1937]; and King Solomon’s Mines [1937]) …

Christie:

“That brief chapter in the 1930’s when Paul Robeson was one of the biggest stars in British cinema — America’s loss was definitely Britain’s gain.”

Extras Rating (0-40):

35

53 + 35 =

88

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