Body and Soul

Watch: Body and Soul

Unrated

11/9/19251h 33m

Theatrical Release (US)

Overview:

A minister is malevolent and sinister behind his righteous facade. He consorts with, and later extorts from, the owner of a gambling house, and betrays an honest girl, eventually driving them both to ruin.

Director:

Oscar Micheaux

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

silent film

Cast

Paul Robeson

~ as ~

Reverend Isaiah T. Jenkins / His brother Sylvester

Mercedes Gilbert

~ as ~

Sister Martha Jane

Julia Theresa Russell

~ as ~

Isabelle

Marshall Rogers

~ as ~

Speakeasy Proprietor

Lawrence Chenault

~ as ~

Yello-Curley' Hinds - the Phony Reverend's Former Jailmate

Chester A. Alexander

~ as ~

Deacon Simpkins - a Church Elder

Walter Henry Cornick

~ as ~

Brother Amos - a Church Elder

Lillian Johnson

~ as ~

"Sis" Ca'line

Madame Robinson

~ as ~

"Sis" Lucy

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

t
talisencrw
Written 9 year(s) ago
8
I love silent films, though this one heralding the first film performance of Paul Robeson is simply good or decent, not great or essential. Robeson's performance is excellent in an otherwise average melodrama, and it's clear he's going to be a star of the silver screen. In her only cinematic appearance, Julia Theresa Russell, who was the director's sister-in-law, deserves mention, however. She's gorgeous and her acting wasn't bad at all. The jazz/blues/spiritual score on the Criterion Collection release, I believe by Wycliffe Gordon, is outstanding. Recommended if you like either silent films or Paul Robeson.