6 Jul 2019

Reviewing every Black film ever: 'The Micheaux Mission'

From The Podcast Hour, 12:48 pm on 6 July 2019
The Micheaux Mission logo

The Micheaux Mission logo Photo: Supplied

Robert Monroe emailed us at pods@rnz.co.nz to tell us about one of his favorite podcasts, "The Micheaux Mission".

The show's name comes from the pioneering African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux and in it hosts Len Webb and Vince Williams are on a mission to watch and review every single Black film ever made. They're funny and friendly and inclusive, and if you haven't seen a lot of these films before, well all the better!

Starting with the 1974 film 'Uptown Saturday Night' they've so far made 164 pit stops at mainstream hits like The Color Purple, Candyman, and Purple Rain, as well as many titles that won't be so familiar...neglected movies the hosts are rediscovering for a modern audience.

The 1991 independent film 'Daughters Of The Dust' falls firmly into this latter category. Written, directed and produced by Julie Dash, it's set on an island off the coast of South Carolina in 1902. And according to Len and Vince it's overdue for a reappraisal.

We play some of 'The Micheaux Mission' episode about the film 'Daughters Of The Dust', hosted by Len Webb and Vince Williams. Finally, a few more episodes to get you started: Vince and Len suggested the ones on 'Nothing But A Man' and the 1977 movie 'Which Way Is Up?' , and Robert enjoyed a more recent one about 'If Beale Street Could Talk'.