Trailer: Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus (Spencer Williams, 1940s)
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Year Published: 1940s
Description:
Trailer for the 1940s film "Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus," written, directed by and featuring Spencer Williams. No copies of the feature film are known to exist.
Filmmaker and actor Spencer Williams was prominent figure in the era of “race films,” which were produced for Black audiences, and contributed to several popular subgenres including the musical Western, horror, drama and comedy. He was also a pioneer of the religious “race film,” producing and appearing in three religious melodramas in the 1940s ("Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus;" "The Blood of Jesus;" "Go Down, Death").
Some reports indicate that Williams made "Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1942 at the request of a Black Catholic priest and other reports date the film’s production to 1947 in Dallas.
Read our blog by guest writer Judith Weisenfeld, author and Agate Brown and George L. Collord Professor of Religion at Princeton University, to learn more: ucla.in/3PnH6Qi
Complete Record: Trailer for the 1940s film "Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus," written, directed by and featuring Spencer Williams. No copies of the feature film are known to exist. Filmmaker and actor Spencer Williams was prominent figure in the era of “race films,” which were produced for Black audiences, and contributed to several popular subgenres including the musical Western, horror, drama and comedy. He was also a pioneer of the religious “race film,” producing and appearing in three religious melodramas in the 1940s ("Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus;" "The Blood of Jesus;" "Go Down, Death"). Some reports indicate that Williams made "Brother Martin, Servant of Jesus" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1942 at the request of a Black Catholic priest and other reports date the film’s production to 1947 in Dallas. Read our blog by guest writer Judith Weisenfeld, author and Agate Brown and George L. Collord Professor of Religion at Princeton University, to learn more: ucla.in/3PnH6Qi
Transcription
[Music] [Music] [Music] 300 years ago blessed martin was one of the most famous men in all south america uh he was colored like us but he was the best doctor in all the world but what did he do and how do you help people [Music] well that seems to be a secret between brother martin and god but he works so many cures that even during his lifetime he was known all over the world and people in far off china in france africa and mexico were healed by him although it is certainly never left his home in peru and yet it is just as certain that he appeared in these different countries and healed the ones that believed in him misery seemed to touch his saintly heart and when called upon he never failed to help yes and even today brother martin is called upon to guide and protect people through dangerous giant his medals and relics were carried by the soldiers in battle and the guidance and protection they received was almost unbelievable [Music] ever do anything for you yes he saved my life [Applause] how did blessed martin save my life well my child it's quite a story but just why he saved my life i don't know maybe maybe it was because i um because of what i'm gonna do because i did something for blessed martin you disrespect my queen i believe that is part of the story [Music] [Applause] [Music] my [Music] ah [Music] [Applause] [Music] you
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