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Soul! Ep 52 - Open
Soul Opening Credits. Announcer Joe Dennis names the guests on tonight's show: Mrs. Eldridge Cleaver, Highlights from Melvin van Peebles Tunes From Blackness: Ain t Suppose to Die a Natural Death, With actors Marilyn Coleman, Bill Duke, Gloria Edwards, Joe Fields, Arthur French, Minnie Gentry and Dick Williams. Filmmaker, Author, Melvin van Peebles. This show hosted by Ellis Haizlip.
Soul! EP 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Gloria Edwards and Dick Anthony Williams perform "Take Your Hands Off Me." She stands on stage which is set to look like bridge overpass. She leans over the edge. Uniformed policeman (African American man) in white face mask tries to pull her away repeatedly as she recites/performs "Take Your Hands off Me;" referencing late Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X; Impassioned, angry, recitation; Jazz music plays in BG.
Soul! EP 52 - Kathleen Cleaver Interview
Ellis Haizlip introducing the rest of the show; introduces interview with Kathleen Cleaver, wife of self-exiled Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver; introduces Kathleen Cleaver as "a sister who is deeply involved in what I should call right-on revolutionary business, a member of the Revolutionary People's Communications Network, mother of Antonio (Ahmed) Maceo and JoJu" Kathleen Cleaver discusses her daughter's birth in North Korea and returning to the United States. Discussion of the International Black Panther Party vs. The Revolutionary People's Communication Network. Kathleen discusses the international efforts of the Black Panther Party, particularly in Algiers. Discussion of the ability to keep people informed about the African American struggle at home and abroad. Discussion of US efforts to block the spread of information. Discussion of Eldridge Cleaver's exile; living in a Third-World country.
Soul! EP 52 - Kathleen Cleaver Interview
Ellis Haizlip interviews Kathleen Cleaver, Haizlip asks Cleaver if she believes she will be in "The Struggle" (Civil Rights) for the rest of her life; she says she will. Cleaver discusses the harassment, brutality, and imprisonment former members still face even after leaving the Black Panther movement; discusses factions and a lack of unity within the Black Panther Party. Cleaver discusses the efforts of enemies of the Party to bring division to a head. Cleaver discusses the process of growth and change in any organization dealing with "The Struggle;" mentions the National Liberation Front in South Vietnam and MPLA in Angola. Discussion of China entering the UN and US Presidential visits to China. Discussion of China and The Soviets' effect on the the Third World movement. Cleaver discusses her visit to the People's Republic of The Congo; discusses history of slavery in Africa; discusses her hopes for her children's generation; discussion of opposition to her international journeys.
Soul! Ep 52 - "Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death"
Another segment from Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death - jazz ensemble performs instrumental music. Bob Carton - Saxophone; Lloyd Davis - Guitar; Arthur Jenkins - piano; Richard Pratt - drums; William Salter - Bass; Charles Sullivan - trumpet. Brief guitar solo; brief Saxophone solo.
Soul! Ep 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Scene from Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death "Don't Come Raisin' Your Leg on Me;" Sung/spoken song by an African American woman to an African American man she's trying to break up with. He never gets a word in, but acts to appease her, to try and plead with her. But she isn't having any of it - she is angry and shouting at him. Set made to look like a city bus stop with crooked "One Way" sign.
Soul! Ep 52 - Melvin Van Peebles Interview
Ellis Haizlip interviews Melvin van Peebles, writer of "Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Suppose To Die A Natural Death." Haizlip commends Peebles' play; talks about how he emotionally identifies it. Haizlip asks about the use of repetition in the lines of the plays; Peebles mentions white criticism of the paly regarding repetition; explains the purpose and use of repetition. Peebles discusses how white critics must approach black culture as a foreign culture. Discussion of Anglo-Saxon mainstream culture vs. African influenced culture. Discussion of how Peebles uses music in his plays. Discussion of black (African American) culture vs. white opera culture. Haizlip says Peebles' work will have a historical impact; Peebles jokes that writing beats working at the post office. Discussion on criticism Peebles has received for bringing his play to Broadway. Haizlip thanks Peebles for allowing his play on Soul; discussion of Gilbert Moses acting as the play director. Discussion of "Put A Curse On You," The next scene from "Ain't suppose To Die A Natural Death."
Soul! EP 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Segment from "Ain't Supposed to die a Natural death;" "Put a Curse on you." Actress Minnie Gentry portraying homeless woman, "junkie" on city street; curses audience to live her fate and become homeless, "junkies" on street. Special FX used throughout scene; swear word are censored with beeps. Artistic monologue alludes to "pushers" (drug dealers), drugs, racism, and police brutality.
Soul! Ep 52 - Melvin Van Peebles Interview
Ellis Haizlip continues his interview with Melvin Van Peebles and asks about where he has gained the background for the work he has done and is doing. Van Peebles replies "I went to the best University in the world - Hunger." Haizlip mentions the "street" element to his work, and van Peebles goes on to explain the pluralities of black culture and that he is only trying to express things from his own experiences, knowledge, point of view etc. and that he is trying to open up opportunities for other people to express their own points of view and what they know. Haizlip asks why people object to the words in the production and Van Peebles responds that its paranoia by the mainstream. Both he and Haizlip agree that the production isn't always about black-white relationships all the time. Haizlip references a segment called "Who Got Whitey" where he says he got something out of it entirely different than black/white relationship and Van Peebles says "that's about a cat putting his bread where his soul is." Conversation shifts to the success of the play on Broadway, calls it 'the Miracle of Broadway." Ellis politely brings up money from the success of Sweet Sweet Backs' Song, when Van Peebles cuts him off and says that although he's kind for his approach to money, he has no qualms about talking about it "...because money is power, and money has allowed "Ain't Supposed to Die" to stand there. That money will also go on into other things." Interview cuts a bit abruptly to what seems to be an earlier part of the interview where Haizlip talks about how "Ain't Supposed to Die" came out of a music recording and now there is a full cast recording of the play. Van Peebles also mentions that his new record "Serious as a Heart Attack" is also just about to be released. They go on to talk about women, he talks about an interview he did for Cosmopolitan where he was named bachelor of the month. Haizlip asks him where he's from and is happy to hear he s from Chicago - names a list of other influential black artists and performers from Chicago. "It s very interesting that so much that has made a great contribution to the black ethos has come out of Chicago, such as, at one time a lot of jazz was centered in Chicago, Catherine Dunham was from Chicago and now we have Melvin van Peebles from Chicago." Haizlip thanks him and concludes the interview, Van Peebles is grateful and finishes with a prediction of a 3-year Broadway run and possibly a movie. Van Peeble talks about how the three white producers on "Ain't Supposed To Die" are white and never pressured him for anything. Haizlip reminds him that he came to the producers as a star already to which Van Peeble says, "Hey, well I've always been a star as far as I was concerned."
Soul! 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Segment from "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death," "I Got The Blood, Who Got Whitey?" Actor portraying African American man on urban, city street (set piece); artistic expression alluding to making money and "hustling" on the streets; swear words censored with beeps; actor, on monologue the discusses "The Movement," i.e. the Black Panther movement; describing himself as a militant leader. Performance alludes to the Black Power movement and fighting the white power structure with militant tactics.
Focus on the 20s - How We Lived
MSs farmers harvesting wheat, using scythes & horse-drawn farm equipment including combines and sowers. TLS/MSs mechanized farming methods (i.e., tractors). TLS/MSs famers processing bales of hay.
Focus on the 20s - How We Lived
MSs women working in textile mill, manning industrial looms. MSs men working on assembly line in automobile factory, assembling cars (steering wheel, engine, grille, cab, etc). MSs workers toiling at oil well. MCU man holding finished iron in factory. MS/CUs man using jigsaw to cut stack of printed cloth. MS/CUs seamstresses at work in factory (sewing, cutting, pressing). MS business suits being stacked. MSs moustachioed man modeling suit in haberdashery. TLS three hackneyed white men modeling business suits in office. MSs dapper business man exiting building, getting into Ford Model A car, tooling off. MS two white businessmen congregating in service club (men's clubs), shaking hands. Labor, business, work.
Focus on the 20s - How We Lived
DO NOT USE Stills of women voting, casting ballots in polling place.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
DO NOT USE Opening titles & Stills of white man & woman posing with string of fish caught during fishing expedition. Still of two white women posing with dead birds killed during hunting expedition. Great stills of several young white women playing poker on beach with deck of comically oversized deck of cards & poker chips.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
TLSs white people recreating on sunny beach. LSs speedboats racing on lake. Nice TLSs men surfing on longboards. TLS sailboats on water. TLS people walking along snowy sidewalk, gusty wind creating snow drifts.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
TLSs people ice skating on frozen ponds in public parks. MS people sledding along trail, using both dog & horse pulled sleds.
Perk Summer Jobs
Interview with the mayor of Cleveland, Ralph Perk. No reporter is seen, only hand holding microphone. CU Perk standing outside of a building, wearing a powder blue suit jacket with tie, talking about an extension of hours and a community cleanup program.
Filing Date
This segment highlights people filing for a space on the city council ballot. MS Caucasian man standing at the counter filling out documents, an older female clerk stands on the other side of the counter, camera zooms in on CU of man's hands signing the papers. MS an African-American man standing at the counter, an elderly Caucasian woman is on the other side sifting through papers., zoom to CU of the papers in the woman's hand, pan to CU of the man. MS third man standing at the counter, he reaches into his inside jacket pocket and pulls out a pen, he takes the cap off the pen as the camera zooms in on CU of the papers in his hands.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
TLS/LSs white men playing polo. Excellent montage of horse racing, folks betting at track: TLS horses walking on track; MS busy betting windows; LSs horse race; MS middle-aged white woman cheering jubilantly, arms outstretched; quick MS two older white men looking through field glasses (binoculars) from stands. MS famous thoroughbred racehorse MAN O' WAR with jockey EARL SANDE.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
Cut to MSs famed swimmer & eventual actor JOHNNY WEISSMULLER mugging for camera by pool; TLS Johnny Weissmuller leaping into pool, swimming quickly, then getting out of pool; CU wet Johnny Weissmuller smiling.
Focus on the 20s - Sports and Games
Great newsreel of GERTRUDE EDERLE swimming across the English Channel, ultimately breaking the time record, 1926: MS Gertrude Ederle being greased up for distance swim; TLS Ms. Ederle stepping into surf, wading, waving to people of shore; TLSs men in row boat alongside her, her coach passing candy bar to her; MS musical band playing in boat also sailing alongside; TLS Ms. Ederle wading shore, surrounded by crowd; MS Gertrude laughing while posing for camera after successful swim; TLSs parade in her honor in New York City; MS Gertrude meeting w/ NYC Mayor JIMMY WALKER. Panning MS women standing by side of pool (array of ages); TLSs women swimming competitively at YMCA.
Focus on the 20s - People
DO NOT USE Opening Titles & Still of Henry Ford.
Focus on the 20s - People
MSs industrialist HENRY FORD inspecting a Model A automobile engine w/ other Ford executives. Montage of automobile assembly & production: MSs hot liquid (either steel or rubber, that latter more likely) spilling into large metal saucer; TLS steel vats of rubber on railcar; TLS workers using chute to pour coal into passing molds; TLS workers pouring molten steel into molds; TLS/MSs Ford Model A cars rolling off assembly line & onto street. TLSs line of Model A automobiles driving along rural dirt roads. MS inventor extraordinaire THOMAS ALVA EDISON getting out of car in woods. MSs Henry Ford hanging out with Thomas Edison & industrialist HARVEY FIRESTONE in woods; TLS Henry Ford having a dickens of a time mounting horse, finally getting up; LS Henry Ford & friends riding horses through stream; MSs Henry Ford cooking at campsite, cutting food; MS Thomas Alva Edison picking berries from bush; MS Ford flipping flapjacks on grill; MS Edison & friends sitting at spinning table in tent; TLSs outdoor Baptist mass/church service (President Warren G. Harding presiding).
Focus on the 20s - People
Montage of college-age Army volunteers camping and training in Plattsburg, NY: traveling shot tent camp; MS two soldiers with tent; MS soldiers peeling potatoes; MS soldiers standing in line, receiving grub; MS soldier sitting in grass, eating; good CU soldier munching on chicken breast; TLS train of immaculate Ford Model A cars arriving at camp; MS President CALVIN COOLIDGE walking with U.S. Army officers; panning MS young soldiers marching with shoulderbound rifles; CU Calvin Coolidge reviewing troops.