Pioneers of African American Cinema: Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
- Thu, Jun 6
Director: Roy Calnek Run Time: 63 min. Release Year: 1926
Starring: Charles Gilpin, Harry Henderson, Lawrence Chenault, Myra Burwell, William A. Clayton Jr.
Country: United States
Language: English
Thanks to the generous support of Donna and Larry James, Ingram White Castle Foundation, and Columbus City Council, Pioneers of African American Cinema returns for programming throughout 2024. On Thursday, June 15, join us at the Film Center for the screening of Roy Calnek’s Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926).
Additional financial support provided by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Tom and Mary Katzenmeyer, Amundsen Davis and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Next in the series:
- Sunday, September 8, 2024, 2:00pm— Dir. Richard C. Kahn’s The Bronze Buckaroo (1939)
- Thursday, November 7, 2024, 7:00pm — Dirs. James and Eloyce Gist’s Hell-Bound Train (1930)
About the film:
In the small town of Cederville, a man named Joe Morgan is swindled out of his mill business and turns to drink. The swindler, Simon Slade, has also done this to other townsfolk. When Slade attempts to throw a glass at Morgan’s head, it hits Morgan’s daughter instead who dies, and leads to a Morgan’s pursuit of Slade. Following this, Slade also dies and Morgan is lead to change his ways and become mayor.
Based on the largely popular 1854 novel by Timothy Shay Arthur, Ten Nights in a Barroom shows the moral tale of a family devastated by alcoholism. This picture give a unique insight to the culture standard at the time on drinking, race relations, and the approach that cinema made through it all.
About the filmmaker:
Roy Calnek was an experienced director who made at least three race films, Abie’s Imported Bride (1925), Hearts of the Woods (1921), and The Prince of His Race (1926).
See our upcoming films