Big Fella

Big Fella
Big Fella
Directed by	J. Elder Wills
Written by	Ingram D'Abbes; Fenn Sherie
Based on	Banjo; by Claude McKay
Produced by	Henry Passmore; J. Elder Wills
Starring	Paul Robeson; Elisabeth Welch; Roy Emerton; James Hayter
Cinematography	Cyril Bristow; George Stretton; H.A.R. Thomson
Edited by	Brereton Porter; Douglas Robertson
Music by	G. H. Clutsam; Wilhelm Grosz; Eric Ansell; Jack Beaver
Release date	8 April 1937;
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Big Fella is a 1937 British musical drama film directed by J. Elder Wills and starring Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch and Roy Emerton. It is loosely based on the novel Banjo by Harlem Renaissance writer Claude McKay.

Plot

Big Fella is set on the docks and streets of Marseilles. Paul Robeson stars as a street-wise but honest dockworker who struggles with deep issues of integrity and human values. Elisabeth Welch plays opposite him as a café singer in love with him. Robeson's wife, Eslanda Robeson, appears as the café owner.^[1]

Reception

The movie received praise, particularly for the music, featuring Robeson and Welch, and for Robeson's performance.

Cast

Paul Robeson as Banjo
Elisabeth Welch as Amanda 'Manda'
Roy Emerton as Spike
James Hayter as Chuck
Lawrence Brown as Corney
Eldon Gorst as Gerald Oliphant
Marcelle Rogez as Marietta
Eric Cowley as Ferdy Oliphant
Joyce Kennedy as Mrs. Oliphant
Dino Galvani as Gendarme
Anthony Holles as Gendarme
Margaret Rutherford as Nanny

References

^ "MRS. ROBESON DOES EXIST". The Queenslander. 12 January 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 5 August 2012 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

Big Fella at IMDb

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[1] "MRS. ROBESON DOES EXIST". The Queenslander. 12 January 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 5 August 2012 – via National Library of Australia.

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