2007 Black Music Month: Movie Posters Gallery
Hallelujah! (1929)
'Hallelujah!' was one of the first films to depict African-Americans in a humane light and one of the first black films produced by a major studio. King Vidor, a white director, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for this film.
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Stormy Weather (1943)
'Stormy Weather' is considered by many to be a time capsule preserving the best of black entertainment from this time period. The U.S. Library of Congress has included 'Stormy Weather' in the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
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Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' was one of the first films to be created outside Hollywood system; it was written, produced, scored, directed by, starred in, and distributed by Melvin Van Peebles. Credited with paving the way for the blaxploitation genre, it was a huge commercial success and broke major ground in terms of visual style. The score was co-written by then unknown group Earth, Wind and Fire.
Shaft (1971)
'Shaft' was directed by Gordon Parks, an acclaimed, multitalented African-American artist. 'Shaft' was created by the Hollywood system to take advantage of the market for black films revealed by the success of 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song'. Dubbed “blaxploitation,” 'Shaft' was one of the first studio successes of this type--featuring black characters in tough urban settings.
Superfly(1972)
'Superfly' was directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., son of 'Shaft' director Gordon Parks. While the film itself is considered forgettable, its soundtrack, created by Curtis Mayfield, spawned a string of timeless hits, including the title song, "Superfly."
Mahogany (1975)
'Mahogany', starring Diana Ross, was directed by Motown founder Berry Gordy. Its theme song, "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)," became a #1 hit on the Billboard charts in 1976. The song was later covered by both Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez in the late '90s.
Sparkle (1976)
'Sparkle' stars Irene Cara in the title role. Cara would have a long career in musical movies, also starring in 'Fame' and singing the theme song for 'Flashdance'. Although the characters in 'Sparkle' go through dark times, Sparkle, played by Cara, experiences a triumphant ending.
The Wiz (1978)
'The Wiz' stars great American performers Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Mabel King, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. Despite this talent roster, it failed both commercially and critically. This failure helped bring Hollywood’s interest in creating black films to a close.
Fame (1980)
Starring Irene Cara and Debbie Allen, 'Fame' won a number of awards for its score, including the Academy Award for Best Song for its theme, "Fame." The film also spawned a successful television series that also starred Debbie Allen, and 'Fame: The Musical,' which ran in London for ten years.
Wild Style (1982)
A movie with a huge cult following, 'Wild Style' is the world's first hip hop film. Documenting the styles of the first stars of the hip hop culture, 'Wild Style' dramatizes all four elements of hip hop in their germinating forms: Deejaying, Emceeing, Breaking and Graffiti.
Flashdance (1983)
'Flashdance' stars biracial actress Jennifer Beals as a dancer whose love for her art is rekindled after harrowing set backs. With a large number of dance sequences shot in the then-new style of music videos, 'Flashdance' was one of the most successful films of the early eighties.
Breakin’ (1984)
Showcasing the revolutionary art of break dancing, 'Breakin'' was inspired by a German documentary called 'Breakin' and Enterin''. Jean Claude Van Damme appears as an extra in the film. A much-loved classic, 'Breakin'' was followed by the sequel, 'Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo'.
Purple Rain (1984)
'Purple Rain' was developed to showcase Prince's talents as a singer, songwriter, performer and actor. The film also showcases stars who became famous under Prince's mentorship, including Apollonia and Morris Day of chart-topping group, The Time. An iconic film, it has been referenced in movies, by magazines, and on television shows from the '80s on.
House Party (1990)
'House Party' features old-school hip hop group Kid-N-Play, in addition to nine other actors who were current or future recording artists at the time of its filming. The film was commercially successful, and let to three sequels, the fourth going directly to DVD. Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell would begin starring on TV's 'Martin' during the year following their appearance in 'House Party: 2.'
Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx won Oscar gold for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the biopic, 'Ray'. The film was entirely financed by Philip Anschutz, an American businessman with an estimated net worth of $7.8 billion, who has a passion for creating family-friendly media. Ray Charles himself read a copy of the original script in Braille in order to give his approval.
Hustle & Flow (2005)
Co-produced by 'Boyz in the Hood' director John Singleton, 'Hustle & Flow' explores the theme of struggling up from the streets to achieve one's dreams. Its signature track 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp,' won the Best Original Song Academy Award in 2006. Although he did not win, Terrence Howard was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of DJay, a pimp who yearns to express himself through music.
Dreamgirls (2006)
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, the movie 'Dreamgirls' had been in development since the '80s before its final debut on Christmas Day, 2006. American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson won both the 2007 Academy Award and the 2007 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Effie White. In addition to Hudson, stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Anika Noni Rose bring the history of black American popular music to the screen for the first time in 'Dreamgirls'. This movie mixes the story of our struggle for civil rights with spectacular dazzle and fun.
