Separate Cinema: Just in Time for the Holidays!

This past summer, I was extremely fortunate to receive an email from the publicist for ACC Distribution (Distributors of High Quality Books) asking me if I wanted a review copy of Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art. Of course, I was like "Heck yeah!" (that wasn't my exact reply, though). But to be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect. I thought a review copy meant a manuscript or Xeroxed copies of the book in a three-ringed binder (don't judge me). So of course, I was floored when received a "kinda heavy" package in the mail, and I was even more surprised when I opened the package and laid my eyes on one of the most beautiful books I'd ever seen.

BASICS

The movie poster art for 1943's Cabin in the Sky serves as the cover of this book.

As it is stated in ACC Distribution's product summary, Separate Cinema: 100 Years of Movie Poster Art is a must-have volume "celebrating the first 100 years of black film poster art". It is edited by archivist and founder of Separate Cinema, John Duke Kisch and Reel Art Press co-founder and editor, Tony Nourmand. It also includes a foreword by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and an afterword by the great Spike Lee. 

Afterword by Spike Lee

The book was published by Reel Art Press and distributed by ACC Distribution. In its 320 pages, there are a total of 325 images--250 in color and 75 in black-and-white.

Published by Reel Art Press

APPEARANCE

The book's cover alone is one of the most physically appealing objects I've ever seen (it's so neat and inviting!). Then, once you get past the cover, your eyes are treated to classic movie poster art in its highest quality (high quality is what ACC Distribution accurately boasts). Separate Cinema: 100 Years of Movie Poster Art takes you on a seemingly unending journey of what may now be considered a dying (or probably even dead) art in the film world: hand-painted movie posters. Some of the images in these posters accurately capture the likeness of the movies' stars, while others simply slapped Uncle Remus, Little Black Sambo, and Topsy on them and said "Finis!", but I'm digressing...

A peek inside

CONTENT

Of course, this isn't just some large picture book. Also filling the pages is written history--sections that provide historical content to the movie posters that you're browsing through, and their respective movies as well. This history and context is provided by the sectioning of movie posters into certain categories. For example, movie posters for The Emperor Jones and Sanders of the River follow a mini-biography on Paul Robeson. Another example: the posters for musical shorts like St. Louis Blues (1929 and 1958) and Black and Tan (1929) are a part of a section titled "Jazz on Film". 

The aforementioned "Jazz on Film" section of the book

So while you're "oohing" and "awing" at the imagery, you're also reading up on Black American history as it relates to American Cinema. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS

There are no graphic images in this book. However, there are the unavoidable mentions of some of the dark, tragic, and racism-infused events of the United States' history.

WHERE TO BUY

Separate Cinema: 100 Years of Black Poster Art would be a great Christmas gift to a friend or a loved one. You could also purchase it for the coffee table of your own home and make it the "conversation piece" of your Christmas party!

You can visit Reel Art Press or ACC Distribution to purchase Separate Cinema: 100 Years of Black Poster Art.



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Again, I want to thank ACC Distribution, particularly Ms. Burch, for graciously allowing me to preview this wonderful book. I also want to thank Mr. Kisch, Reel Art Press, and Mr. Nourmand for making this great collection of art and history accessible to us all. 

All of my love,
Adrienne 


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*Photos taken by me, Adrienne, and shared for informational purposes only*

Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art

Here is a book to look out for!

From ACC Distribution

"This magnificent volume is a celebration of the first 100 years of black film poster art. A visual feast, these images recount the diverse and historic journey of the black film industry from the earliest days of Hollywood to present day. Accompanied by insightful accompanying text, a foreword by black history authority and renowned academic, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and an afterword by Hollywood director, Spike Lee."

Read more Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art and its author by clicking here. The coffee table book will be available this Fall.

Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood

I love biographies and autobiographies, but I haven't read any in a long time. Bringing me back into the swing of things is Ms. Hattie McDaniel and her biography, Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood, written by Jill Watts and published in 2005.

I've had the book for less than 24 hours and with only two chapters completed, I'm already in awe of Hattie McDaniel's talents, her legacy, and even her ancestry. Even in her teenage years, the Oscar-winner was making landmark strides in the entertainment industry. 

I'll give you my final thoughts on this biography when I've finished reading it!

In the meantime, please check out this informal (personal) post on My Aige Old Soul.

Sidney Poitier: A Book & A DVD Collection

TCM released a collection of four Sidney Poitier films in March as apart of their "Greatest Classic Legends" series. 

You can purchase the DVD collection on TCM, Amazon, or at one of your local video stores or bookstores. 

"A baby is born with a coin in her hand. An orphan crafts a mysterious wooden object. The CEO of a large corporation finds himself under extraordinary pressure at work and at home. And on a remote hilltop on a Caribbean island, a medicine man seems to understand the meaning of all these events and to hold the key to the future."

You can also purchase Mr. Poitier's first novel, titled Montaro Caine: A Novel on Amazon or at one of your local bookstores. 

Donald Bogle's 'Bright Boulevards..."

Let me first start off by saying that Donald Bogle is every bit of AMAZING. Amazing, amazing historian!

I'd previously borrowed his book Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood from my campus' library, but was unable to finish it (I made the mistake of borrowing three books at one time, SMH).

But I've got this precious gem and again and have every intention of finishing it. I also plan to pull some trivia from this book to post (properly citing of course). 

If you haven't read or referred to anything of Mr. Bogle's--be it books, DVD commentaries, documentaries, etc.--please do! The man is a walking encyclopedia of Black American Cinema!