WAY DOWN SOUTH (1939-ca. 1945) Set of 9 photos

Langston Hughes, Clarence Muse (screenwriters) [Hollywood: RKO and Screencraft, 1939-ca. 1945]. Set of nine (9) vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white print still photos, one with marginal wear, overall VERY GOOD+. Five are from the 1939 original RKO release, 4 are from an undated reissue by Screencraft, ca. 1945.

The only theatrical feature film written by Langston Hughes (in collaboration with African American actor Clarence Muse, who also played the major supporting role of “Uncle Caton” in the film). Hughes and Muse intended to create a story about antebellum Louisiana, in which African Americans’ role in history could be more accurately portrayed. The result was inevitably heavily compromised by the studio but, nonetheless, this extremely rare title (both paper from it and the film itself, although it exists, is very hard to see) does document a forgotten moment in Hughes’ illustrious career.

Co-author Muse had an illustrious career, in which he repeatedly gave dignity to stereotyped servant roles in Hollywood movies. “He had an uncanny ability to distinguish his characters by breathing realism and spirituality into the downhome family man persona he had been playing since… 1929.” (Kisch, Separate Cinema, p. 92)

All ephemera from this obscure little film are very scarce. The African American cast members are present in six of the nine photos. Richards 1242.

Out of stock