Tag: Drama

Man’s Duty, A

A Man's Duty

Details
Year of Release:  1919
Genre:  Drama
Rating: N/A
Runtime:  67 mins.
Black & White
Silent
Studio:  Lincoln Motion Picture Company
Director:  Harry A. Gant

Cast:   Clarence Brooks (Richard Beverly), Webb King (Hubert Gordon), Tasmania Darden, Ethel Gray, Eva Johnson, Anita Thompson.

Synopsis:   Richard Beverly and Hubert Gordon are rivals for the affections of a beautiful woman.   A plan, contrived by Hubert to embarrass Richard in public, ends with the two spending a drunken night at a bordello. Learning of the trick the next day, Richard fights Hubert, who hits his head on a rock after Richard knocks him down. Richard, thinking that he is a murderer, leaves town and becomes a dissipated drunk in a distant city, where he meets Merriam Givens. Hoping to clear himself of disgrace so that he can marry Merriam, Richard writes home and learns that, although Hubert survived the accident, a prostitute is pregnant as a result of that night and believes Richard is the father. Will Richard do the right thing and marry the mother of his child, or will he follow his heart to be with his true love?

Notes:  This was the first feature-length production of the Lincoln Motion Picture Co., one of the leading black independent companies of the period. Source(s):  TCM.  Photo Source:  A Separate Cinema.

by Categories: Independent Race FilmsTags: , , , 4 Comments

Girlfriends’ Getaway

Girlfriends GetawayRelease Date:  8/30/14; TV One
Genre:  Drama/Comedy
Rating:  Not Available
Running Time:  Not Available
Studio(s):  Bobbcat Films, Nina Holiday Entertainment
Director:  Roger M. Bobb

Cast:  Garcelle Beauvais (Vicky Holmes), Terri J. Vaughn (Sophie), Malinda Williams, Essence Atkins.

Details:  Vicky Holmes, a successful business owner, is outwardly hitting a stride in love and life. However, just days before a romantic birthday trip, she is blindsided by her boyfriend’s decision to relocate and end their relationship. Vicky ultimately decides to bring her best girlfriends – who are all facing turning points in their lives as well – with her, for a grown-up girls’ getaway in Trinidad. After their first wild night, an innocent mistake sets off a chain of events that will forever change each of their lives. When the very pregnant Sophie is kidnapped and held for $10,000 ransom, the remaining girls have 24-hours to come together in order to get Sophie back safely or end up in jail.  Source(s): The Wrap; Shadow and Act.

Trailer:

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Chocolate City

Chocolate CityRelease Date:  5/22/15 (In Theaters)
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  R
Studio:  Nu-Lite Entertainment
Director:  Jean-Claude La Marre
Cast:  Robert Ri’chard (Michael), Michael Jai White (Princeton), Tyson Beckford (Rude Boy), Darrin Dewitt Henson (Magnus), Jean-Claude La Marre (Pastor Jones), Ginuwine (Pharaoh), Eurika Pratts (DeDe), Vivica Fox, Imani Hakim (Carmen), Carmen Electra (DJ), Deray Davis (Chris), Ernest Thomas (Restaurant Manager).

Story:  Michael (Robert Ri’chard) is an inner city college student, struggling to make ends meet. He is juggling a part time job as a cook, and a hectic school schedule, meanwhile trying to help his mother keep the lights on and the bills from overwhelming them. With mounting bills and the pressure of school, Michael is running out of time and options. His older brother, Chris (Deray Davis) is never far away with some advice and/or misguided adventure to help Michael find a solution. One night, during an off chance encounter with Princeton (Michael Jai White), a neighborhood club owner/hustler, Michael is offered a job opportunity. After following up, it’s revealed that the job is as a male exotic dancer at the Chocolate City nightclub. Because of his strong Christian background, and believing his mother (Vivica Fox) would not approve, Michael struggles with his decision to accept the job offer, but eventually does.

Surprisingly, Michael, who dances under the stage name “Sexy Chocolate”, becomes an instant attraction at the club, and gains a legion of female fans. Within weeks of his job, Michael’s financial struggles disappear. Meanwhile, Michael’s on and off girlfriend, Carmen (Imani Hakim), remains in the dark about this new “job” which is suddenly earning Michael so much extra money. Michael does everything to conceal what he is doing from his girlfriend. At the same time, Rude Boy (Tyson Beckford), the former star attraction at the Chocolate City nightclub feels threatened that he is losing his popularity at the club to Michael, and conspires to eliminate Michael or force him to leave. A fun, sexy dramatic dance movie that will have women drooling and cheering! Source: thechocolatecitymovie.com, official site.

Trailer:

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Details:  Independent filmmaker Jean-Claude LaMarre (Gang Of Roses, Color Of The Cross) is hoping to tap into the world of male strippers with Chocolate City, which aims to merge the Magic Mike phenomenon with the recent strength of African-American-themed films at the box office.

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Race

Race PosterRelease Date:  2/19/16
Genre:  Biography/Drama
Rating:  Not Available
Studio:  Forecast Pictures, Solofilms, Trinity Race, Distributors Focus Features
Director:  Stephen Hopkins

Cast:  Stephan James (Jesse Owens), Jeremy Irons (Avery Brundage), Jason Sudeikis (Larry Snyder), Carice van Houten (Leni Riefenstahl), Amanda Crew (Peggy), William Hurt (Jeremiah Mahoney), Jonathan Aris (Arthur Lill), Eli Goree (Dave Albritton).

Story:  Track and field star Jesse Owens overcomes adversity to win four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.  Source:  IMDB.

Trailer:


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Details:  Reported by Deadline on 7/16/14:

Focus Features has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Race with Stephan James playing Olympian Jesse Owens. The film starts production this month and is one of several films about the sprinter who ruined Hitler’s plans to showcase the superiority of German athletes in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This film has the support of the Jesse Owens Foundation, the Jesse Owens Trust and the Luminary Group.

Jason Sudeikis will star as Owens’ obsessive coach and mentor Larry Snyder, who, after a prestigious track career himself, became a coach at Ohio State University. Snyder coached athletes who set 14 world records and won eight Olympic gold medals. Jeremy Irons will portray Avery Brundage, the head of the American Olympic committee who fought to have the 1936 Olympics take place in Berlin.

There are several other Jesse Owens film in the works. Disney is developing a movie based on the Jeremy Schaap book Triumph, with The King’s Speech scribe David Seidler scripting a full scale biopic. Another package has Anthony Mackie hoping to play the sprinter and Jamie Linden and Jason Spire producing a script by George Olson, and there is also another film with Greg Nava writing and directing, and Bill Gerber producing. That script centers on the incredible but largely unknown relationship between Owens and Lutz Long that began at the ’36 Olympics despite Hitler’s anger over the sportsmanship these two athletes showed each other.

Source(s): Moviepilot, Deadline, Movie Insider. Photo Source: Ohio State University (library.osu.edu).

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Comeback Dad

Comeback DadRelease Date:  7/12/14; UP TV
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  Unrated
Running Time:  Unknown
Studio:  UpToParr Productions LLC; Distributors GMC
Director:  Russ Parr
Cast: Tatyana Ali (Nina), Charles S. Dutton (Othell), Loretta Devine (Malinda), Brad James (Spence).

Story:  Nima Babineaux looks like a woman who has it all – she is an accomplished pianist who runs her own music school and is engaged to Spence, a successful engineer who adores her. But, in truth, she has never recovered from her alcoholic father, Othell, walking out on their family and it has made it hard for her to truly trust anyone. When Othell decides it is time to make amends and tries to reenter her life, Nima begins an emotional and eye-opening journey she could have never expected.  (Source:  UPtv.com).

Trailer:

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Jump In

Jump In

Release Date:  09/22/2014; Direct-to-Video
Genre:  Drama
Rating: NR
Runtime: 82 mins.
Studio: Maverick Entertainment
Director: Kimberly D Conner
Cast:  Sheree Bynum, Karen Malina White, Michael Higgenbottom, Kevin Craig West, Dingani Beza.

Synopsis:  Troy Alexander returns to her roots, armed with a plan, to pass the bar and start her own practice. Although, her love of the law takes a back seat to her young son, Jordan, it provides an escape from realities. Troy is convinced she doesn’t need love. She’s content and love is a distraction, until her friends, Tarin and Camryn stumble upon Malik Bond, a middle school math teacher. Her friends plan a meeting and all doesn’t go according to plan. Troy realizes that what Malik lacks in his wallet, he makes up for it in other areas. Sparks fly and life seems perfect… Then circumstances bring her well-thought plans to a halt. Her life flashes before her eyes, just as love lands at her door. Astounding revelations affecting the family in different ways, when the unthinkable happens. (Source: Maverick Entertainment).

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