Body and Soul (1925 film)

Body and Soul is a 1925 race film produced, written, directed, and distributed by Oscar Micheaux and starring Paul Robeson in his motion picture debut.

Paul Robeson made his film debut at the age ofin Body and Soul, playing the dual role of Jenkins and Sylvester. As part of the agreement to star in the film, Robeson received a 100 per week salary plus three percent of the gross after the first 40,000 in receipts.The original version of Body and Soul was a ninereel production. When the filmmaker applied for an exhibition license from the Motion Picture Commission of the State of New York, it was denied approval on the grounds it would tend to incite to crime and was immoral and sacrilegious. Micheaux was forced to reedit the film twice before the commission approved the film, which was reduced from nine to five reels. The surviving copy of Body and Soul is based on this edited version Micheauxs director cut is considered a lost film. Body and Soul is one of three surviving silent films created by Micheaux, who is credited with makingsilent productions. Body and Soul holds an 80 approval rating on aggregate film site Rotten Tomatoes. ........

Source: Wikipedia