SLAVES

US, 1969, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ossie Davis, Dionne Warwick, Stephen Boyd, Nancy Coleman, Julius Harris, David Huddleston, Gale Sondergaard, Shepperd Strudwick.
Directed by Herbert J. Biberman.

Slaves is a film about a revolt in the south, a Kentucky slave who is sold to a cruel master (who has a black mistress). The slave is played by Ossie Davis, the master by Stephen Boyd and the mistress by singer Dionne Warwick.

The film is conventional in its presentation of slavery as well as the revolt. However, the film is of historical interest because of its co-writer director. Herbert J. Biberman was one of the Hollywood Ten, blacklisted from Hollywood along with his wife, Oscar-winning actress Gale Sondergaard. Biberman had made The Master Race in 1944 and was only able to make another film, independently about a New Mexico civil and industrial disturbance, Salt of the Earth, in 1954. Slaves was his only film after Salt of the Earth and the first film that Gale Sondergaard was able to appear in for twenty years.

The film is interesting insofar as it offers a perspective by Biberman with his own experience of oppression in the United States.

1. The emphasis of the title and indication of theme? Slaves as a film of the late 1960s? Reflecting American concerns at the time? Subsequent impact?

2. The quality of the colour, locations? The re?creation of 19th century atmosphere? The use of music and song?

3. Did the film have a 1960s outlook on America, blacks and the slave issue? America and its conscience and guilt?

4. The importance of the opening sequences? The sympathetic master? The Stillwell household and the way it was run? The possibilities for slaves? Luke and his ability to prosper in this situation? Stillwell caught by the machinations? The pressures on him to sell his slaves, though unwillingly? Fate and the impossibility of escaping it?

5. The film's focus on Luke? His status in the Stillwell household, taking its name? The fact that he had to be sold? The importance of the sequences with his wife?

6. The impact of the sale? The separation of husband and wife, the grief, the sense of hopelessness? The emotional response of the audience to this?

7. How well presented was the slave market at New Orleans? The nature of the sale, the humiliation of the slaves and their presentation, the comments of the buyers, the corments of the New Orleans lady about slavery?

8. McKay? as seen in this particular context? Being introduced to him in New Orleans? How did he typify the plantation owners and the slave masters? The vigorous young man and his arrogance? his sympathy towards black culture, the decorations and adornment of his house? his mistress? And yet his sadistic attitudes towards the slaves? His torture and the details of his humiliating of the slaves? The ambiguity in the American slave owner? How plausibly explored was this theme?

9. The character of Cassy and her role in this household? Her hair and clothes, her status? Yet her humiliation and her drinking? Her attitude towards McKay? Her attitude towards Emmaline as she came into the house? Her wanting to kill McKay? Luke's influence in persuading her not to? Her desperate need to escape?

10. What happened to Luke in this new household? His standing on principles, his mouthing of his religious beliefs and their being tested? His torture and whipping? His determination that the little baby should not be a slave? His involvement in her birth? His plans for the escape? The fatality of his death? How futile was Luke's life?

11. The characterization of Jericho, his sale, his place in the Mc Kay household, his torture, his escape?

12. The importance of the presentation of the details of the slaves' life, their work In the fields, their housing conditions, the humiliation, the sexual abuse etc.?

13. McKay? and his friends? The landowners? The criticism of the cousin from the north? His drunkenness and his almost being killed? His killing of Luke?

14. The fire and its effect on McKay?

15. The savagery after the escape? The fact that there were more blacks to pursue? This as a condemnation of the arrogant attitude of the Americans?

16. Critics were very hostile to the film. Why? They said it was pretentious and a set?back to civil rights causes. Is this evident from the film? how well did the film explore America and its racial heritage? questions of human dignity, slavery and freedom?