Nothing But a Man

Nothing but a Man
Directed by	Michael Roemer
Produced by	Michael Roemer Robert Rubin Robert M. Young
Written by	Michael Roemer Robert M. Young
Starring	Ivan Dixon Abbey Lincoln Yaphet Kotto
Release date(s)	September 19, 1964 (1964-09-19) (New York Film Festival)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Nothing But a Man is a film made in 1964 and directed by Michael Roemer. The story is about a black railroad worker, who falls in love with a black school teacher, who is the town’s preacher’s daughter.^[1] The story depicts the struggle of their strife for “a meaningful place” in their society. It stars Ivan Dixon as Duff Anderson and Abbey Lincoln as Josie Dawson. It was originally a 1933 play, but was not made into a movie until 1964. According to The Washington Post, "Nothing But a Man is one of the most sensitive films about black life ever made in this country”.^[2][3]

Plot

The story introduces Duff Anderson on the railroad, playing checkers with his rail worker friends, at a pool hall, and on the street at night. At church, Duff meets Josie Dawson, a very grounded woman. They begin to date, against the will of Preacher Dawson (Josie’s father). Duff then realizes that he prefers the stability and love of a wife as opposed to brute freedom. The two marry and begin to face a series of challenges as a married couple. Duff's past is constantly lingering and creates difficulty in their lives. Duff has a son who is nearly four who stays with a nanny; he also has an unfamiliar drunkard of a father. The plot unfolds as Duff faces racism, unemployment, social barriers, illegitimate children, and his drunken father at the side of his caring wife. Duff and his wife get into a fight because of the emotional and physical trials Duff faces. Duff storms off to his father, who is so inebriated, that he dies as Duff is driving him to the hospital. The film concludes as Duff finally gains the courage to return home with his son and he reassures his wife that everything is “gonna be all right”.

Cast

• Ivan Dixon: Duff Anderson
• Abbey Lincoln: Josie Dawson
• Yaphet Kotto: Jocko
• Leonard Parker: Frankie
• Stanley Green: Reverend Dawson
• Eugene Wood: Johnson
• Helen Lounck: Effie Simms
• Julius Harris: Will Anderson
• Gloria Foster: Lee
• Gertrude Jeanette: Mrs. Dawson

Music

The original soundtrack to the film was put together by Wilbur Kirk and employs an original soundtrack by Motown Records (1964).

Track Listing:

• 1. "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" - Martha & The Vandellas
• 2. "Fingertips (Pt. II)" - Little Stevie Wonder
• 3. "That's the Way I Feel" - The Miracles
• 4. "Come on Home" - Holland & Dozier
• 5. "This Is When I Need You Most" - Martha & The Vandellas
• 6. "I'll Try Something New" - The Miracles
• 7. "Way Over There" - The Marvelettes
• 8. "Mickey's Monkey" - The Miracles
• 9. "You Beat Me to the Punch" - Mary Wells
• 10. "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" (live) - The Miracles
• 11. "Bye Bye Baby" (live) - Mary Wells

Awards

In 1993, this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Production

The script was written in six weeks but casting took several months because at the time not many blacks could find part time work in the cinema.^{[citation needed]} Charles Gordone is responsible for introducing the writers to the main stars, Abbey Lincoln and Ivan Dixon. The movie premiered at Philharmonic Hall and was a supposed success.

Before the film was written, Roemer, who had fled Nazi Germany as an 11-year old child^[4] on the Kindertransports, and his colleagues went on a quest to understand and get to know the African American culture of the south. They “left on an Underground Railway in reverse”. They allowed themselves to be passed on from one family and community to the next so they could learn as much as possible about the relationships and experiences. One morning, while in Mississippi, the plot of a young couple and the relationship with the man’s father came to Roemer and the script was written in six short weeks as soon as they were back in New York.

The film was written by both Robert M. Young and Michael Roemer, who drew on his own background as a Jew persecuted by Nazis.^[4] Michael Roemer also went on to direct the movie; Robert M. Young directed the cinematography. It was produced by both men, along with Robert Rubin and was edited by Luke Bennet. The music was done by Wilbur Kirk, the production design was done by William Rhodes, and Nancy Ruffing was the costume designer.

The film was apparently a favorite film of Malcolm X.

Julius Harris was a male nurse before he was cast in the movie,^[5] but had always wanted to act.

At the last minute, the writer almost changed the name of the movie to Duff Anderson.

References

1. ^ Synopsis The New York Times
2. ^ Review The Washington Post
3. ^ Review DVD Talk
4. ^ ^{a b} Vicki Vasilopoulos, "New Life for a 1964 Film" The New York Times (November 14, 2004). Retrieved October 20, 2011
5. ^ William H. Smock, "Michael Roemer: Silhouette" The Harvard Crimson (March 4, 1965). Retrieved October 28, 2011

External links

• Nothing But a Man at the Internet Movie Database