A Daughter of the Congo (1930)
Adventure | 5 April 1930
Some of the plot summary was taken from modern sources. New York Age stated that this was the first talking picture produced by an African-American company.
On 1 Sep 1928, Chicago Defender announced that Sylvia Birdsong would play the lead in Oscar Micheaux’s upcoming film, A Daughter of the Congo. The 8 Sep 1928 issue noted that the picture was set to be the twenty-fourth release from Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who headed his own production company, active in the motion picture industry from 1919 to 1948. Other actors listed as cast members circa Sep 1928 included J. Homer Tutt, Jennie Hillman, Ida Forsyne, and Princess Jota.
Principal photography was postponed, as reported in the 15 Sep 1928 Chicago Defender, after Micheaux suffered “a severe attack of neuritis.” He resumed work on the picture sometime before spring 1930. On 26 Mar 1930, a news brief in the New York Amsterdam News stated that a 5 Apr 1930 premiere was scheduled to take place at the Renaissance Theatre in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. Roland C. Irving and Earl B. Westfield, writers of the movie’s theme song, “Let’s Get It,” were set to attend. (Irving also acted in the film.)
A negative review of A Daughter of the Congo, written by Theophilus Lewis and published in the 16 Apr 1930 New York Amsterdam News, accused Micheaux of multiple offenses, namely promoting racial prejudices by portraying lighter-skinned, or “high yellow,” black characters as good-natured, and darker-skinned black characters as villainous. Lewis also stated that African natives were depicted as “half-wits.” Despite his criticisms, ...
Some of the plot summary was taken from modern sources. New York Age stated that this was the first talking picture produced by an African-American company.
On 1 Sep 1928, Chicago Defender announced that Sylvia Birdsong would play the lead in Oscar Micheaux’s upcoming film, A Daughter of the Congo. The 8 Sep 1928 issue noted that the picture was set to be the twenty-fourth release from Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who headed his own production company, active in the motion picture industry from 1919 to 1948. Other actors listed as cast members circa Sep 1928 included J. Homer Tutt, Jennie Hillman, Ida Forsyne, and Princess Jota.
Principal photography was postponed, as reported in the 15 Sep 1928 Chicago Defender, after Micheaux suffered “a severe attack of neuritis.” He resumed work on the picture sometime before spring 1930. On 26 Mar 1930, a news brief in the New York Amsterdam News stated that a 5 Apr 1930 premiere was scheduled to take place at the Renaissance Theatre in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. Roland C. Irving and Earl B. Westfield, writers of the movie’s theme song, “Let’s Get It,” were set to attend. (Irving also acted in the film.)
A negative review of A Daughter of the Congo, written by Theophilus Lewis and published in the 16 Apr 1930 New York Amsterdam News, accused Micheaux of multiple offenses, namely promoting racial prejudices by portraying lighter-skinned, or “high yellow,” black characters as good-natured, and darker-skinned black characters as villainous. Lewis also stated that African natives were depicted as “half-wits.” Despite his criticisms, he praised Micheaux’s earlier work and noted that A Daughter of the Congo was an aberration for the otherwise talented filmmaker.
Several contemporary sources, including theater listings in the 5 Apr 1930 New York Age and 9 Apr 1930 New York Amsterdam News, referred to lead actress Kathleen Noisette as “Katherine Noisette.” The 12 Jul 1930 [Baltimore, MD] Afro-American listed La Roma Guilford as a cast member.
Lupelta, a mixed-race girl of white and black ancestry who was stolen as a baby and brought up by an African tribe, is betrothed to the powerful chief Lodango. As she travels with her maid to Lodango's village, she stops to bathe and is captured by Arab slave hunters. Meanwhile, Captain Paul Dale of the African-American 10th U.S. Cavalry, assisted by First Lieutenant Ronald Brown, operates a constabulary in the small republic of Liberia, where Lupelta's tribe lives. During a reconnaissance mission, they encounter the slave hunters, rescue Lupelta and imprison the men responsible for her capture. Dale and Brown then take Lupelta to a mission school, where she excels remarkably, despite her tendency to return to some of her wild native ways. Through her industry, beauty, and intelligence, Lupelta soon becomes one of the most popular girls in ...
Lupelta, a mixed-race girl of white and black ancestry who was stolen as a baby and brought up by an African tribe, is betrothed to the powerful chief Lodango. As she travels with her maid to Lodango's village, she stops to bathe and is captured by Arab slave hunters. Meanwhile, Captain Paul Dale of the African-American 10th U.S. Cavalry, assisted by First Lieutenant Ronald Brown, operates a constabulary in the small republic of Liberia, where Lupelta's tribe lives. During a reconnaissance mission, they encounter the slave hunters, rescue Lupelta and imprison the men responsible for her capture. Dale and Brown then take Lupelta to a mission school, where she excels remarkably, despite her tendency to return to some of her wild native ways. Through her industry, beauty, and intelligence, Lupelta soon becomes one of the most popular girls in Monrovia.
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