Body and Soul

Pioneering African American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux's Body and Soul, produced outside of the Hollywood system, follows an escaped convict seeking refuge by attempting to pass himself off as a reverend in a small Georgia town. In a magnetic film debut, Paul Robeson portrays two roles, the Reverend and his estranged identical twin brother. Juxtaposing the devious faux religious man against a kind young brother, Robeson’s masterful screen turn marked the beginning of what would become a legendary career in film, stage, and music.