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The Green Pastures

  • 1936
  • Approved
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
932
YOUR RATING
Rex Ingram in The Green Pastures (1936)
Trailer for this film based on the play
Play trailer3:48
1 Video
14 Photos
Drama

God, heaven, and several Old Testament stories, including the Creation and Noah's Ark, are described supposedly using the perspective of rural, black Americans.God, heaven, and several Old Testament stories, including the Creation and Noah's Ark, are described supposedly using the perspective of rural, black Americans.God, heaven, and several Old Testament stories, including the Creation and Noah's Ark, are described supposedly using the perspective of rural, black Americans.

  • Directors
    • Marc Connelly
    • William Keighley
  • Writers
    • Roark Bradford
    • Marc Connelly
    • Sheridan Gibney
  • Stars
    • Rex Ingram
    • Oscar Polk
    • Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    932
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Marc Connelly
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Roark Bradford
      • Marc Connelly
      • Sheridan Gibney
    • Stars
      • Rex Ingram
      • Oscar Polk
      • Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    • 32User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    The Green Pastures
    Trailer 3:48
    The Green Pastures

    Photos14

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    Top cast58

    Edit
    Rex Ingram
    Rex Ingram
    • De Lawd…
    Oscar Polk
    Oscar Polk
    • Gabriel
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    • Noah
    • (as Eddie Anderson)
    Frank H. Wilson
    Frank H. Wilson
    • Moses
    • (as Frank Wilson)
    George Reed
    George Reed
    • Mr. Deshee…
    Abraham Gleaves
    • Archangel
    Myrtle Anderson
    • Eve
    Al Stokes
    • Cain
    Edna Mae Harris
    • Zeba
    • (as Edna M. Harris)
    James Fuller
    • Cain the Sixth
    George Randol
    • High Priest
    Ida Forsyne
    • Noah's Wife
    Ray Martin
    • Shem
    Charles Andrews
    • Flatfoot
    • (as Chas. Andrews)
    Dudley Dickerson
    Dudley Dickerson
    • Ham
    Jimmy Burress
    • Japheth
    Billy Cumby
    • Abraham
    • (as William Cumby)
    • …
    Ivory Williams
    • Jacob
    • Directors
      • Marc Connelly
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Roark Bradford
      • Marc Connelly
      • Sheridan Gibney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The studio's anxiety about this film's all-Black cast is evident in the film's 3:48 minute trailer. It consists of white actor Dick Powell talking directly to the camera, white workers preparing costumes and props, and author Marc Connelly explaining the rationale for the bare sets to a studio executive. According to Connelly, it is how a "simple, devout" people would imagine heaven. At no time are Rex Ingram or any of the film's other stars shown in the preview, and there is only a brief sequence of black extras in a long shot.
    • Goofs
      One of Noah's son's rides a zebra that is clearly a donkey or mule made to look like a zebra. Two real zebras are loaded while he rides the fake.
    • Quotes

      Gabriel: Gangway. Gangway, for the Lawd God, Jehovah!

    • Crazy credits
      God appears in many forms to those who believe in Him. Thousands of Negroes in the Deep South visualize God and Heaven in terms of people and things they know in their everyday life. The Green Pastures is an attempt to portray that humble, reverent conception.
    • Connections
      Edited into Governing Body (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Have You Got Good Religion (Certainly, Lord)
      (uncredited)
      Traditional spiritual
      Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir

    User reviews32

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    One of a Kind

    The Green Pastures enacts Old Testament Bible stories as seen through the eyes of rural black children. The movie begins in a ramshackle church, generations ago, presumably in the Deep South. As the Sunday School teacher relates the Bible stories we are transported to Heaven to witness the Creation, the Banishment from the Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the Exodus. An all-black cast, speaking in the rural idiom, and set in modern day (1930s) surroundings makes for one of the most unique movies you will ever see.

    All the pieces fit together perfectly. It's a joy to watch, deeply spiritual, and the gospel choir accompaniment is an added treat. Grade A.
    • gbheron
    • Jun 11, 1999
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Neger erzählen die Bibel
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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