Paul Robeson - Here I Stand (1999)

If Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is remembered at all these days, it's most likely as the booming baritone on the definitive version of "Ol' Man River." But Robeson, as this serious, nearly two-hour 1999 documentary makes plain, was a great deal more than that. A world-renowned singer and actor, athlete, orator, activist, socialist, and patriot, he was most likely the most famous black man in the world in the mid-20th century. Robeson's conscience was indefatigable; he wasn't always right, but he never backed down from his enemies, principally imperialism and "conservative capitalism." He paid a heavy price, from ostracism to outright persecution, for maintaining his principles. Here I Stand details all of it, with the usual interviews and film clips highlighted by a great deal of footage (performances, interviews, speeches) of Robeson himself. This fascinating story of a great man's life and work also includes a discography, filmography, and complete chronology. --Sam Graham Amazon.com

An amazing life

This is an incredible documentary about the life and career of the legendary Paul Robeson, and covers the good along with the bad. Less than positive aspects of his life, such as how he cheated on his wife, are dealt with openly and honestly instead of being excused or glossed over. His life really typified all that is both good and bad about America. He was a poor African-American boy whose father urged him to make a better life for himself, and he became an all-star football player at college and did exceptionally well in school. He could have gone on to be a very successful lawyer after graduation, but was forced to find another occupation because of the institutionalised racism of the time, even up in the North. Robeson found success in everything he did after this stinging rejection, whether he were singing, acting onstage, acting onscreen, fundraising, or giving public speeches. He truly went from strength to strength, and because he was so devoted and committed to standing by his beliefs and principles, his career was temporarily halted and his reputation (in America at least) tarnished during the McCarthyist witch hunts of the late Forties and most of the Fifties. People who had not long ago been huge fans and supporters of his suddenly turned on him because of his Leftist beliefs and how he refused to back down from what he stood for. However, not everyone let the terrifying political climate of the time deter them from continuing to support him and attend his concerts and lectures, and he was able to find great continued success in Europe. And even while he was being persecuted in his country, he made it clear that he did not intend to permanently settle in Europe, because he'd been born in America and was committed to working to reform and change it. After the climate of fear and persecution lifted, he was able to continue his career as a singer and speaker in America.

Watching this documentary really made Robeson one of my new heroes. Not only was he a great actor and a fantastic singer, he was also a tireless champion of civil rights and civil liberties, an activist against the Vietnam War, all other wars, and the bomb, a proponent of peace, and a great believer that we are all one, that people of all races and nationalities are brothers and sisters. When many others were scared into hiding their Leftist beliefs, Robeson stayed strong and spoke out against the gross violations of civil liberties and the First Amendment during the McCarthyist witch hunts, stating loud and clear that it was against the law to persecute people for belonging to a certain political party and for trying to deny them their freedom of association and expression. Scarily enough, we're heading back towards that same climate today. He really practised what he preached, and wasn't afraid to speak out politically even when he was in the Soviet Union during the last years of Stalin's reign. At a concert he gave, he said he had recently spoken with a man who was supposed to have officially disappeared (and who soon was killed, one of the victims of the so-called "Doctors' Plot"), and to express his solidarity with the Jewish community, he sang "Zog Nit Keyn Mol," the song sung by the ghetto fighters and partisans during the Shoah. He really went above and beyond the call of duty in reaching out to all groups of oppressed people and feeling that regardless of differing races, religions, and nationalities, all oppressed peoples' struggles for freedom, equality, and civil rights were one and the same and that all people, whomever they might be, were indeed one big family. Anyone can do the easy thing, but it takes a person of morals, character, and conviction to do the right thing, even though it might be the harder thing to do and one might be persecuted on account of it. Staying true to himself meant more to him than denying his beliefs for the sake of an easier life. April 1, 2006

Captures all of the major issues

The content of this film has already been discussed, but fans will be pleased that most of the major issues dealing with Robeson, his career, and the controversy are all handled well in the allotted time. It also does not shy from some of the less flattering aspects of his career (such as his actual knowledge of Stalin's crimes, but his refusal to openly speak on this because he felt his bigger enemies were at home), but this is handled well and you come away with a good idea of what the man was about in his outspokenness on issues of oppressed people. Only monor complaint is the lack of special features on this DVD, but overall, it's worth the money. January 7, 2004

An Excellent Introduction to the Man

This "American Masters" volume directed by St. Clair Bourne is an excellent centennial introduction to the life and times of Paul Robeson, one of the greatest Americans of the twentieth century. The video's content has already been discussed by other reviewers and I have nothing to add on that score, other than to recommend three other fine books that people interested in finding out more might enjoy.

First is Martin Bauml Duberman's biography of Robeson, published in 1989. This is the best single source.

Second is Philip Foner's excellent "Paul Robeson Speaks" which contains a collection of Robeson's writings and speeches, as well as an excellent chronology. Particularly noteworthy is the transcript of Robeson's testimony before the House Unamerican Activities Committtee.

Third is Robeson's own book "Here I Stand," a small but very valuable volume with enduring insights about America and the world.

O.K., there's also a fourth. Paul Robeson Jr. has written an excellent new book about his father that is worth checking out.

You should be able to find these books (Foner's book may be out of print) on Amazon. December 10, 2003

americas shame

this dvd shows how robeson was caught up in international politics and paid with his life. he was years ahead of his time, a one man civil rights movement careering into the mccarthyite era, a dangerous place to be, but he did not shirk: " i have made my choice, i have no alternative." his mission?" all men are brothers because of thier music." still misunderstood by the american conciousness, this dvd goes some way to explaining robeson's political manoevers and also demonstrates the huge american support he had during his opposition to the prevailing policies of the day, many of which are now discredited and redundant. what a hero. August 28, 2003

Fascinating and Compelling

This documentary is probably one of the best biopics I've seen in a long time--it's incredibly moving, it told a compelling story I wanted to keep listening to, and it devoted enough time and attention to its subject so that by the end you really felt you knew something about the man.

The reviewer on this page did an excellent job of summarizing the content of the documentary, though I disagree with her about the Robeson films shown. That section of the movie dragged for me. It's true that in role after role, Robeson was forced to play characters unworthy of him, allowed only the narrow, stereotyped range that moviegoers expected to see African-Americans portray, and undermined by directors and editors even when he attempts to give his work a deeper significance and a more challenging political message. But the filmmakers seemed determined to show extended footage of each and every one of these movies, and it's painful to watch such a talented man being objectified in film after film. I finally had to fast-forward.

In the ample footage of Robeson performing on his own, on the other hand, whether singing, speaking to crowds, or describing his life in television appearances, Robeson isn't forced to compromise with someone else's vision. Here, he can say what he really thinks. I was astonished at how unrelentingly outspoken Robeson was at such an early date--at least from the Second World War if not earlier. In fact, when Robeson returns from an extended trip abroad in the early 1960s, he's greeted at the airport by a gaggle of interviewers, one of whom wants to know whether he'll be particating in the Civil Rights Movement. Given everything we've seen thus far, it's an astonishing question and I was torn between outrage and laughter, but Robeson just gives the guy a mildly condescending stare and says, "I consider myself to have been doing so my entire life." Likewise, a segment that shows how, over the years, Robeson transformed the song 'Ol' Man River' from a testament to racism to an ode to struggle and endurance is powerful. I was also entranced by Robeson's television appearances. In these, you can see something that doesn't come through in his singing speaking, or acting: that he was a natural storyteller, with a gift for timing and humor, and an actual physical involvement in each anecdote that seems to reflect his youthful training as an athlete.

All in all, I found this movie one of the most informative I've seen, one that educated without sacrificing its ability to entertain and entrance. Much of the credit must go to Robeson himself, committed both to teaching America about the truth of its behavior toward its most disadvantaged citizens, and to the extraordinary quality of his artistic work, which has a beauty and power that remains to this day. August 25, 2003

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