Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.
- Awards
- 1 win total
Clyde Turner
- Soloist in Church
- (as Sgt. Clyde Turner)
Bertha Woolford
- Mrs. Bronson
- (as Bertha Wolford)
Norman Ford
- Lt. Robert E. Bronson
- (as Lt. Norman Ford)
Gertrude Elise Ayer
- Self - Principal
- (archive footage)
Richmond Barthé
- Self - Sculptor
- (archive footage)
- (as Richard Barthe)
Erich Borchmeyer
- Self
- (archive footage)
Dean Dixon
- Self - Conductor
- (archive footage)
W.C. Handy
- Self
- (archive footage)
Matthew Henson
- Self - Polar Explorer
- (archive footage)
Adolf Hitler
- Self
- (archive footage)
Cornelius Johnson
- Self
- (archive footage)
Henry Johnson
- Self - WW1 Soldier
- (archive footage)
Ralph Metcalfe
- Self
- (archive footage)
Lawrence Reddick
- Self - Museum Curator
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn 2011, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress with the following statement: "'The Negro Soldier' showcased the contributions of blacks to American society and their heroism in the nation's wars, portraying them in a dignified, realistic, and far less stereotypical manner than they had been depicted in previous Hollywood films."
- Alternate versionsAccording to government documents, a two-reel shortened version of the film was released in July 1944.
- ConnectionsEdited from America (1924)
Featured review
"The Negro Soldier" is a film you wouldn't show in the 21st century. With our hyper-awareness of racism and its evils, folks today would immediately notice that the documentary paints a ridiculous image of 'we're all one big happy family' in regard to blacks in America during WWII. The truth is, they were second-class soldiers serving in a mostly segregated military. Blacks serving on naval vessels usually were assigned roles as glorified domestics--serving coffee and the like to the white sailors. And, even with the famed Tuskeegee Airmen and their wonderful service record, they were never integrated into white units. So, despite the image the film is trying to create, viewers today will quickly dismiss this as mere wartime propaganda...which it is.
Now I am not saying it's a badly made film. While the framework of a minister giving his sermon on Americanism and the war effort is patently ridiculous, as well as his congregation members joining in on the sermon...the effect is also rather sweet. An odd dichotomy, I know.
My advice is by all means watch the film. It does celebrate the many achievements of black soldiers...and it an interesting curio of the day...a flawed curio, of course.
Now I am not saying it's a badly made film. While the framework of a minister giving his sermon on Americanism and the war effort is patently ridiculous, as well as his congregation members joining in on the sermon...the effect is also rather sweet. An odd dichotomy, I know.
My advice is by all means watch the film. It does celebrate the many achievements of black soldiers...and it an interesting curio of the day...a flawed curio, of course.
- planktonrules
- May 10, 2017
- Permalink
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $78,254 (estimated)
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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