The Emperor Jones

Of all Paul Robeson's eleven starring film performances, by far his most iconic was his breakthrough in the big-screen adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones (1933). He was already a legend for his stage incarnation of Brutus Jones, a Pullman porter who powers his way to the rule of a Caribbean island, but with this, his first sound-era film role, his regal image was married to his booming voice for eternity. With The Emperor Jones, Robeson became the first African-American leading man in mainstream movies and, he said, gained a deeper understanding of cinema's potential to change racial misconceptions. Previously censored, The Emperor Jones is presented here in its most complete form.

United States
1933
105 minutes
Black & White
1.33:1
English
Spine #370

Special Features

New digital transfer of The Emperor Jones, created from the best surviving elements
Audio commentary for The Emperor Jones by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson, a new video program including interviews with filmmaker William Greaves and actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones
Robeson on Robeson, a new interview with Paul Robeson Jr. about his father's career and art
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

Available In

Collector's Set

Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist

DVD Box Set

4 Discs

$69.95

Special Features

New digital transfer of The Emperor Jones, created from the best surviving elements
Audio commentary for The Emperor Jones by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson, a new video program including interviews with filmmaker William Greaves and actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones
Robeson on Robeson, a new interview with Paul Robeson Jr. about his father's career and art
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing