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John Brown's body at San Quentin Prison / a film by Joe De Francesco ; director and editor, Joseph De Francesco ; producer, Joan Saffa.
- Format:
- Video
- Series:
- Academic Video Online
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Benét, Stephen Vincent, 1898-1943--Adaptations.
- Benét, Stephen Vincent.
- California State Prison at San Quentin.
- Prison theater--California--San Quentin.
- Prison theater.
- Racism--United States.
- Racism.
- Slavery in literature.
- United States--Race relations.
- United States.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Genre:
- Documentary films.
- Feature films.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (74 minutes)
- Other Title:
- John Brown's body at San Quentin Prison : the documentary
- Place of Publication:
- New York, NY : De Francesco Productions, 2013.
- Language Note:
- In English.
- System Details:
- video file
- Summary:
- John Brown's Body at San Quentin Prison is a documentary that delves into the transformative experience of a group of inmates serving life sentences for murder at San Quentin Prison in California. These selected inmates were chosen by Director Joe De Francesco to perform a theatrical adaptation of Stephen Vincent Benét's epic poem, John Brown's Body, which centers on the American Civil War. In 2002, the production was staged before an audience of 500 inmates and civilians and captured by multiple cameras. This performance marked the largest live theatrical "Arts in Corrections" production of its kind in any U.S. maximum-security prison at the time. The film examines themes of race, freedom, and slavery--central issues within the prison environment. Through candid interviews with the racially diverse cast of inmate-actors, the documentary reveals the profound impact and transformative power that three years of rehearsal and performance had on their lives. The film interweaves these interviews with extensive excerpts from the play, offering a comprehensive look at the project's significance. Additionally, the documentary is paired with a full recording of the original play's performance and a study guide designed for both students and teachers, providing a deeper educational context for the material.
- Notes:
- Title from title screen (viewed November 18, 2024).
- OCLC:
- 1478553771
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