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The Emperor Jones

  • 1933
  • Approved
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Paul Robeson in The Emperor Jones (1933)
DramaMusic

Adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play about a fragile Black man who becomes the ruler of a West Indian island.Adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play about a fragile Black man who becomes the ruler of a West Indian island.Adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play about a fragile Black man who becomes the ruler of a West Indian island.

  • Directors
    • Dudley Murphy
    • William C. de Mille
  • Writers
    • Eugene O'Neill
    • DuBose Heyward
  • Stars
    • Paul Robeson
    • Dudley Digges
    • Frank H. Wilson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Dudley Murphy
      • William C. de Mille
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill
      • DuBose Heyward
    • Stars
      • Paul Robeson
      • Dudley Digges
      • Frank H. Wilson
    • 28User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Photos14

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    + 6
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    Top Cast16

    Paul Robeson
    Paul Robeson
    • Brutus Jones
    Dudley Digges
    Dudley Digges
    • Smithers
    Frank H. Wilson
    Frank H. Wilson
    • Jeff
    • (as Frank Wilson)
    Fredi Washington
    Fredi Washington
    • Undine
    Ruby Elzy
    • Dolly
    George Haymid Stamper
    • Lem
    • (as George Stamper)
    Brandon Evans
    • Carrington
    • (uncredited)
    Taylor Gordon
    • Stick-man
    • (uncredited)
    Billie Holiday
    Billie Holiday
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Rex Ingram
    Rex Ingram
    • Court Crier
    • (uncredited)
    James P. Johnson
    • Pianist
    • (uncredited)
    Moms Mabley
    Moms Mabley
    • Marcella
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Nicholas
    Harold Nicholas
    • Young Tap Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Blueboy O'Connor
    • Treasurer
    • (uncredited)
    Fritz Pollard
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Lorenzo Tucker
    Lorenzo Tucker
    • Extra in Nightclub Scene
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Dudley Murphy
      • William C. de Mille
    • Writers
      • Eugene O'Neill
      • DuBose Heyward
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    6.41.4K
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    10

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    Related interests

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    Music

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Fredi Washington had to reshoot her scenes wearing dark make-up when the Hays Office deemed her as appearing too light-skinned in the first rushes. They feared audiences would think Paul Robeson was embracing a white actress.
    • Goofs
      When Jones lands on a Caribbean island, there are prickly pear and San Pedro cacti on the beach, neither of which are found in the Caribbean.
    • Quotes
      • Brutus Jones: I's got five lead bullets in this gun good enough for common bush niggers. And after that, I's got this silver bullet left to cheat 'em outta gettin' me. I tells 'em, when the time comes, I kills myself with it. That's 'cause I'm the only man in the world big enough to get me.
    • Alternate versions
      The 72-minute version has different opening credits. In the original version, the title reads "The Emperor Jones" in uppercase (capital) letters. In later prints of this film, including the 72-minute version nearly always screened on TV, the title reads merely "Emperor Jones" , in lowercase letters.
    • Connections
      Edited into SanKofa Theater: The Emperor Jones (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Now Let Me Fly
      (uncredited)
      Traditional American spiritual
      Sung by the church patrons and Paul Robeson

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    Details

    • Release date
      • September 29, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El emperador Jones
    • Filming locations
      • Eastern Service Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA(Kaufman Astoria Studios since 1982)
    • Production company
      • John Krimsky and Gifford Cochran Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $263,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 12m(72 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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