Product Review

The Emperor Jones - Digitally Remastered

In the key role of his career, Paul Robeson repeats his powerful stage portrayal of Brutus Jones, a railroad porter who becomes the ruler of a remote Caribbean island, a story loosely patterned after the life of Haitian emperor Henri Christophe.

Adapted by DuBose Heyward from a Eugene O'Neill play, Emperor Jones follows the railroad porter Brutus Jones (Robeson) who leaves his girlfriend Dolly (Ruby Elzy) in favor of Undine (Fredi Washington), but that too is short-lived.

A master manipulator, liar, and swindler, Brutus murders his friend Jeff (Frank Wilson) over a crap game. He ends up on a chain gang, but escapes to Haiti where the white trader Smithers (Dudley Digges) buys his freedom. Scamming his way into a business partnership with Smithers , Brutus becomes filthy rich. The Haitian natives begin to worship him like a god and Brutus begins his tyrannical rule as self-appointed emperor.

“A distinguished offering, resolute and firm, with a most compelling portrayal by Paul Robeson.”
-The New York Times

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