A true landmark of American cinema and African-American screen representation, Nothing But a Man portrays the poignant relationship between a preacher’s daughter (jazz singer Abbey Lincoln) and a railroad man and single dad (Ivan Dixon). After the two marry, they confront a host of problems including racism, school integration, unemployment, and family conflict. Against this detailed social backdrop (which is a powerful document of Jim Crow-era restrictions), the film portrays Duff and Josie as fully-fleshed out individuals, complex and contradictory, in a way rare for movies about black characters at the time. Shot during the tumultuous summer of 1963-the summer of Medgar Evers’ assassination, George Wallace at the University of Alabama, and the March on Washington, the film features an unparalleled, Motown based soundtrack that includes Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells and the Miracles. Nothing But a Man is fiction Cinema Vérité gold.Named to the National Film Registry in 1993, Nothing But a Man was re-released in 2013 by Artists Public Domain/Cinema Conservancy from a new, restored 35mm print by the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Restoration.
Directed by Michael Roemer. Photographer by Robert Young. Written by Michael Roemer and Robert Young.
Peep the snippet from the movie Nothing But a Man:
A conversation between director Michael Roemer and writer Kevin Powell will follow the 7:30pm screening on Friday, April 25th.
A Q&A with director Michael Roemer and filmmaker Albert Maysles will follow the 7:30pm screening on Saturday, April 26th.
Related articles
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
