That's Black Entertainment

Lacking the respect of the Harlem Renaissance artists and unable to find broader market appeal, so-called "race movies," or early African-American cinema, struggled to find an audience between the turn of the century and the late 1940s. The opening volume of this two-parter begins with an incisive overview of early "black entertainment," examining the social forces dictating the rise and shape of African-American film, highlights from seminal works, and an assessment of individual filmmakers such as Oscar Micheaux, closing with a trio of shorts, which includes Bessie Smith in "St. Louis Blues" (unfortunately, the sound quality is terrible). The second volume offers a compilation of 16 "Soundies," three minute music videos featuring, among others, Ida James, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie. Larger collections will certainly want to consider this entry (the "soundies" volume is wonderful), but as a documentary, Midnight Ramble (VL-5/95) is a better overview of early African-American film. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)