Brown Gravy

Brown Gravy is a 1929 American comedy film with an African American cast. William Watson directed the Al Christie production.^[1] It was among the early "talkie" films released with African American casts. Octavus Roy Cohen wrote the story, part of a series he wrote for the Saturday Evening Post adapted to film in collaboration with Christie.^[2] The film's thin plot includes themes addressing religion, fraternal organizations, con men, and family life.^[3]

The New York Public Library has photos used in promoting the film including caricatures of the leads.^[4] The film features a singing contest between choral groups in Memphis.^[5]

Cast

• Spencer Williams^[5][6]
• Roberta Hyson
• Sam McDaniel
• Edward Thompson
• Evelyn Preer^[4]
• The Georgia Jubilee Singers

References

1. "A Shortie Checklist: Paramount - Shorts - TCM Message Boards".
2. Lupack, Barbara Tepa (October 26, 2002). Literary Adaptations in Black American Cinema: From Micheaux to Toni Morrison. University Rochester Press. ISBN 9781580461030 – via Google Books.
3. Watkins, Mel (May 26, 1999). On the Real Side: A History of African American Comedy from Slavery to Chris Rock. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781569767603 – via Google Books.
4. Klein, E.G (October 26, 1929). Film stills scrapbook: Brown gravy. OCLC 969903819 – via Open WorldCat.
5. Richards, Larry (September 17, 2015). African American Films Through 1959: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography. McFarland. ISBN 9781476610528 – via Google Books.
6. Cripps, Thomas (1978). "The Films of Spencer Williams". Black American Literature Forum. 12 (4): 128–134. doi:10.2307/3041505. JSTOR 3041505 – via JSTOR.