The Colored American Winning His Suit

Details:
Year of Release: 1916
Genre: Drama
Rating: N/A
Runtime: Unknown
Silent
Black & White
Studio:  Frederick Douglass Film Company

Cast: 
Thomas M. Mosley (Bob Winall)
Ida Askins (Alma Elton)
Florence Snead (Bessie Winall)
Marshall Davies (Jim Sample)
F. King (Mr. Hinderus)
Fred Leighton (Colonel Goodwill)

Synopsis:

Freed from slavery after the Civil War, the Winalls rent a farm from their former master. They prosper, eventually buy the farm, and have two children, Bob and Bessie, whom they send to college. Returning home as a lawyer, Bob falls in love with Bessie’s roommate Alma Eaton, however her mother wants her to marry a wealthy man instead. But when Alma’s father gets into trouble with the law, Bob goes up against a white man, Mr. Hinderus, in court and with the help of Colonel Goodwill, saves the day.  The white man’s attempt to “hinderus” having failed, clearing the way for Bob’s marriage to Alma.

Notes:

First feature film made by a Black production company.  The Frederick Douglass Film Company of New Jersey, whose officers included some of the most prominent black citizens of Jersey City and whose purpose was “to give the public motion pictures which do not degrade the race.”  According to the press book, The Colored American Winning His Suit was aimed “to offset the evil effects of certain photo plays that have libeled the Negro and criticized his friends; to bring about a better and more friendly understanding between the white and colored races; to inspire in the Negro a desire to climb higher in good citizenship, business, education and religion.”

The New York Age (July 20, 1916), hailed the film as “the first five-reel Film Drama written, directed, acted and produced by Negroes” and praised the company, which was “owned and operated by Negroes” and “whose aim is to present the better side of Negro life, and to use the screen as a means of bringing about better feeling between the races.”

The cast was made up of non-actors from the Jersey City, NJ area. Scenes were shot in Virginia, Jersey City, and at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

This film is considered lost.

Source(s):  TCM; Literary Adaptations in Black American Cinema: From Micheaux to Toni Morrison by Barbara Tepa Lupack; IMDB.

Night Comes On

Release Date:   8/3/18; Video-On-Demand
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  NR
Director:  Jordana Spiro
Studio(s): Superlative Films, Genera Entertainment, Thunderhead Pictures,
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Running time:  90 mins.
Cast:  Dominique Fishback (Angel Lamere), Tatum Marilyn Hall (Abby Lamere)

Story:   Night Comes On tells the story of Angel, a young woman released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, Angel embarks on a journey with her 10 year-old sister to avenge her mother’s death.  Source:  Firstshowing.net.

Trailer:

A Hundred Blocks

Release Date:   6/15/17; American Black Film Festival
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  Unknown
Running Time:  87 mins
Black & White
Director:  Diaunte Thompson
Cast:  David A. Green, Robert D. Jordan, JaMaurae Birden, Tina Gilton

Story:  Jaleel finally has enough cash saved up to leave Oakland and avoid the violent fate of his father, along with so many of his peers. When a friend promises to triple those savings, Jaleel goes against his better judgment and says yes. The added money will let Jaleel realize his goal of opening a gym in the new town—a dream inspired by his father.  The film was produced by NFL running back, Marshawn Lynch.  Source(s):  abff.com; The Wrap.

Michael Jackson:  Searching for Neverland

Release Date:  5/29/17; Lifetime
Genre:  Drama/Biography
Rating:  NR
Director:   Dianne Houston
Studio:   Lifetime, Silver Screen Pictures, Lifetime Television

Cast Navi (Michael Jackson), Chad L. Coleman (Bill Whitfield), Sam Adegoke (Javon Beard), Aidan Smith (Prince Jackson), Taegen Burns (Paris Jackson), Michael Mourra (Blanket Jackson).

Story:  Based on the best-selling book, Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days, and told through the eyes of Jackson’s trusted bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. The movie will reveal firsthand the devotion Michael Jackson had to his children, and the hidden drama that took place during the last two years of his life.  Source:  Lifetime.

Trailer:

Halfway

Release Date:  4/21/17; UMC
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  NR
Running Time:  103 mins.
Director:  Ben Caird

Studio:   JP International Productions, RLJ Entertainment, Urban Movie Channel (UMC).

Cast:  Marcus Henderson (Paulie), Amy Pietz (Beth), Jeffrey DeMunn (Walt), Gillian Zinser (Eliza), Quinton Aaron (Byron).

Story:  The story of a recently released convict who faces the conflict of enduring ties with his old criminal world while struggling to adapt to life on probation as the only black man in a conservative white farm town.  Source:  Official site, halfwayfilm.com.

Trailer:

Detroit

Release Date:  8/4/17; In Theaters
Genre:  Drama/Based on Actual Events
Rating:  Unknown
Running Time:  Unknown
Director:  Kathryn Bigelow
Studio:  Annapurna Pictures, First Light Production, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Cast:  John Boyega, Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, Ben O’Toole, Hannah Murray, Anthony Mackie, Jacob Latimore, Algee Smith, Joseph David-Jones, Kaitlyn Dever, Jason Mitchell, John Krasinski, Jeremy Strong, and Laz Alonso.

Story:  Profiles the story of the infamous Detroit riot of 1967.  The film features an ensemble cast of characters to tell the story of why so many citizens decided to rise up, and how the riot expanded so quickly to become so massive that the President had to send in federal troops to get things under control.  Source:  Firstshowing.net.

Trailer: