With stars like Sidney Poitier and Eartha Kitt looking magnificent in their teens and 20s in these old-fashion films, it makes me wonder what else we don’t know about our past pioneers. These movies featured beautiful actors, nice settings and backgrounds, and similar plots to today.
And even more surprising, audiences of the film feast in Dec. stayed throughout the whole films. That’s exactly what the director of the Arts centers said about these films and actors, that they captured the eyes of the old and new generations.
Personally, it didn’t hold me too long, but that’s just because I was in work mode. However, I was in AWE at the quality and beauty of such filmmaking at a time when people of color were not even allowed through the front door of most public places, let alone buy film equipment and shoot on the streets of New York.
But they did! Which is what is so amazing to me.
These were not just the first minority filmmakers, the first black lead actors and singers- these were people- just people- who took risks, took initiative, beat the odds, and succeeded.
And I look up to them. Yes, even after over 80 years since.
They definitely inspired me.
©ALN