The star of Body And Soul (Micheaux Film Corporation,
1925) is actor and singer Paul Robeson (1898 - 1976). He was the son
of a minister, who had been an escaped slave, and a school-teacher
mother. While attending Rutgers University, Paul excelled in
baseball, basketball, track and football. He continued on with his
studies at Columbia University Law School, and he took part in
amateur theatrical's productions. Upon graduating law school he chose
not to practice law but to seek a stage career. He was
enthusiastically received. In addition to singing at recitals he
appeared in films. Late in 1924 Essie Robeson, Paul's wife, concluded
arrangements with Oscar Micheaux for Paul to star opposite Julia
Theresa Russell (Micheaux's future sister-in-law) in the movie Body
and Soul. Essie obtained a contract that called for 3 percent of the
gross after the first forty thousand dollars in receipts and a salary
of one hundred dollars per week for three weeks. He made a handful of
sound films and continued his singing career, but in an age of
political ostracism, Paul Robeson's pro stance on communism severly
curtailed his professional career and private life. It continued to
effect his reputation up to the time of his death and beyond. Paul
Robeson was a very talented man who was not allowed to enjoy the fame
he deserved. Perhaps his revival will allow this fine artist's work
to shine once again.