Bill "Bojangles" Robinson: Soundies / Videos / Film Appearances (1930-1943)

Описание: Born shortly after the U.S. Civil War's devastating aftermath, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson went on from a local child busker to the highest paid black entertainer of the early 20th Century. Achieving national fame across theatre circuits, Robinson also managed to wedge his was into the early world of cinema, paving the way for black representation through a variety of means, some of which drew criticism due to his apparent acceptance of being an "Uncle Tom."

While performing onstage, Robinson's acts were subject to racial prejudice & practice, such as the requirement of black face and the "two-color" rule. Though eventually flipping the script with the help of his long-time vaudeville agent, Marty Falcons, Robinson was still limited in the ways he could present & express himself by time Hollywood had called.

Despite Robinson maintaining the qualities that made him a star (notably his exuberant style of tap dance mixed with witty comedic effect), the costs of such meant playing in demeaning & unfavorable roles, mainly those of servitude during his early Hollywood start. Faced with heavy criticism as an "Uncle Tom," Robinson pressed on, making the most out of each opportunity available, with many of his appearances ending up as "scene stealers."

By around 1934, Robinson's luck would soon turn around with 20th Century Fox's search for a black dancer to partner with their newest star, Shirley Temple. Signing with Fox and making his debut with Temple in "The Little Colonel," the duo became a popular force with 3 subsequent appearances together on screen, despite initial controversy of the interracial duo in Hollywood. Though still playing demeaning roles, Robinson was slowly able to trade in his butler garbs for comical pairs of top hat and tail or a suit & derby for specialty scenes, outfits resembling the fine attire he took pride in while in theatre.

By time of his final role as a main star in "Stormy Weather," Robinson had given blacks in cinema a more meaningful presence as entertainers, lead stars, and scene stealing comic relief as opposed to the traditional servant & low-class roles he had endured himself. Though not solely responsible for the new wave of black representation, Robinson's life-long challenge against traditional norms had greatly shaped the opportunities available alongside how black culture within itself is handled in popular media both old & new.

In this video, one can walk through Robinson's decade-long journey & transformation, bearing witness to the "World's Greatest Tap Dancer" at work!
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Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Dixiana (1930)
0:03:58 - Harlem is Heaven (1932)
0:18:08 - King for a Day (1934)
0:39:45 - The Little Colonel (1935)
0:43:48 - The Littlest Rebel (1935)
0:51:20 - In Old Kentucky (1935)
1:03:35 - Hooray for Love (1935)
1:14:27 - Cafe Metropole (1937)
1:19:49 - Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)
1:24:10 - Up the River (1938)
1:29:25 - Just Around the Corner (1938)
1:39:58 - Let's Scuffle [Soundie] (1942)
1:42:57 - By An Old Southern River [Soundie] (1942)
1:46:14 - Stormy Weather (1943)
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⚪ Full English (US) transcription/captions in progress! 👷🏾‍♂️⚙️
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Bill "Bojangles" Robinson performing across a number of major motion pictures & short films, featuring other stars in their early career such as Shirely Temple, Jeni LeGon, Louis "Putney" Dundridge, Thomas "Fats" Waller, and Geneva Sawyer.

This video is solely for the purposes of compiling and sharing the cinematic history of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and in no way or means is being used for monetary purposes.