Elizabeth Bessie Coleman, who was born in rural Texas in 1892, is best remembered as the first African American pilot in the U.S. Enthusiastically hosted by Aneva Walker, filmmaker Gardner Doolittle’s documentary spotlights the life, achievements, and accomplishments of the outspoken Coleman, who moved to Chicago in 1915 and met a newspaper owner who helped finance her training at a school in France (black women were not allowed to enroll in U.S. flying schools). After returning to the states, Coleman put on air shows throughout the country, including Florida, where a mysterious flying accident tragically ended her life in 1926. The Legend combines short dramatizations, newspaper clippings, sepia photographs, movie clips, vintage airplane footage, and book illustrations, as Walker tells Coleman’s story from various locations. The film ends with Walker speculating about the cause of the accident and suggesting that Coleman has received short shrift in books and other publications about historic aviation feats and trailblazing pilots. Although overly loud atmospheric background music occasionally competes with Walker’s onscreen commentary, this laudatory profile of a brave woman who broke the aviation color barrier, fought racism, and fostered African American pride tells an inspiring story. Extras include an interview with Doolittle. A strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Beauregard)
The Legend: The Bessie Coleman Story
(2018) 108 min. DVD: $24.99 ($199.99 w/PPR). Dreamscape Media. Closed captioned. Volume 34, Issue 1
The Legend: The Bessie Coleman Story
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