Afro Promo (1997)

Black Cinema Trailers 1946-76

Afro Promo (1997) poster

Co-curated by Jenni Olson and the late Black gay activist Karl Knapper, this entertaining showcase of vintage movie trailers traces the evolution of African American cinema through its most crucial period, 1952-1976. Filled with insights on race and social dynamics, this fascinating compendium of coming attractions explores an extensive range of stylistic approaches—Blaxploitation, Comedy, Music Bio, Plantation Drama and more—offering an outrageous joyride through motion picture history. Beyond mere camp, these marvelously condensed gems crystallize a range of African American identities and personalities, tracking the meteoric careers of Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Pam Grier and others through their bold performances in movies both hugely popular and practically forgotten. Afro Promo provides a compact glimpse at the representation of African Americans through twenty-five dynamic years of American cinema history.

Director: Jenni Olson, Karl Knapper
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 91 min
Release Date:

Cast

Production: Other Cinema
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

hollywood, trailer compilation, archival, black stories

Trailer

Afro Promo Trailer
More Films by Director: Jenni Olson, Karl Knapper
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Afro Promo about?
Co-curated by Jenni Olson and the late Black gay activist Karl Knapper, this entertaining showcase of vintage movie trailers traces the evolution of African American cinema through its most crucial period, 1952-1976. Filled with insights on race and social dynamics, this fascinating compendium of coming attractions explores an extensive range of stylistic approaches—Blaxploitation, Comedy, Music Bio, Plantation Drama and more—offering an outrageous joyride through motion picture history. Beyond mere camp, these marvelously condensed gems crystallize a range of African American identities and personalities, tracking the meteoric careers of Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Pam Grier and others through their bold performances in movies both hugely popular and practically forgotten. Afro Promo provides a compact glimpse at the representation of African Americans through twenty-five dynamic years of American cinema history.
Who directed Afro Promo?
Afro Promo was directed by Jenni Olson, Karl Knapper.
Who stars in Afro Promo?
Afro Promo stars Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Pam Grier.
How long is Afro Promo?
Afro Promo has a runtime of 1h 31m (91 minutes).
What genre is Afro Promo?
Afro Promo is a Documentary film.
Where was Afro Promo produced?
Afro Promo was produced in United States of America.