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Song of Freedom

Play trailer Poster for Song of Freedom 1936 1h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
After being discovered by prominent composer Gabriel Donizetti (Esme Percy), black laborer John Zinga (Paul Robeson) rises to international stardom as an opera singer in spite of widespread racism. Feeling uneasy, however, in a racially divided society, Zinga turns down a prestigious New York singing contract and instead journeys to his ancestral African homeland. When Zinga is met as an outsider even there, he must struggle for acceptance among the aboriginals from which he descended.

Critics Reviews

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John Kinloch California Eagle 10/31/2019
In an abstract way, you want to shout, "Great work! Great courage! Keep up the good spirit, old thing!" and suchlike. But the picture doesn't jell. Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine 10/09/2019
Mr. Robeson sings superbly, but the picture is slow and unconvincing. Go to Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin 03/03/2019
The story is unusual and well thought out Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 08/11/2005
3/5
Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan 10/19/2004
4/5
Robeson is THE reason to see it Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 04/09/2004
C+
It's worth seeing just to hear Robeson sing. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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07/11/2023 Wonderful story. Wonderful movie. Wonderful acting. A must see. Let’s do our utmost to eradicate human slavery & most importantly child sex trafficking. See more 01/18/2019 Poor script, not very well acted. Trying to decide who exploited who See more 01/29/2011 "Robeson reminds me of a James Earl Jones of the early 1900's, very similar in tone and stature, and with a very entertaining singing voice which saves Song of Freedom from being a overly corn syrup type of a film." Full review at: http://www.commonsensemoviereviews.com/2010/11/song-of-freedom-1936.html See more Read all reviews
Song of Freedom

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Cast & Crew

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J. Elder Wills

Director

Paul Robeson

John 'Johnny' Zinga

Elisabeth Welch

Ruth Zinga

George Mozart

Bert Puddick

Esme Percy

Gabriel Donizetti

Joan Emney

Nell Puddick
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Song of Freedom

Song of Freedom (1936) Song of Freedom (1936) Song of Freedom (1936) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After being discovered by prominent composer Gabriel Donizetti (Esme Percy), black laborer John Zinga (Paul Robeson) rises to international stardom as an opera singer in spite of widespread racism. Feeling uneasy, however, in a racially divided society, Zinga turns down a prestigious New York singing contract and instead journeys to his ancestral African homeland. When Zinga is met as an outsider even there, he must struggle for acceptance among the aboriginals from which he descended.
Director
J. Elder Wills
Producer
Will Hammer
Screenwriter
Claude Wallace, Dorothy Holloway, Ingram D'Abbes, Fenn Sherie, Michael Barringer
Production Co
Hammer Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 9, 2016
Runtime
1h 20m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm