Collection | Films by Title: "L"
Listed by title followed by year of release, annotation, genre, running time, format, and director
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L'Arbre Aux Esprits (2002) - Children, 46 min., DVD, dir: Cilia Sawadogo.
La Bamba (1987) - Jackie Wilson (Howard Huntsberry) performs at a major Rock n' Roll festival in Brooklyn, Allan Freed's 1st Anniversary of Rock n' Roll Show. He helps Richie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) overcome nerves before the performance that makes Valens an overnight sensation. Drama, 103 min., VHS, dir: Luis Valdez.
Lad an' a Lamp (1932) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
Ladies Sing the Blues, The (1986) - The film documents women blues singers from 1929 through the 1950s. Music Performance, 60 min., VHS, dir: Tom Jenz.
Lady From Louisiana (1941) - John Wayne, as a reformer out to get political grafters, falls in love with the chief villain's daughter (Ona Munson) and when the chief is killed by his own men, Wayne is accused. Dorothy Dandridge plays Felice, lady's maid to Munson. Drama, 83 min., VHS, dir: Bernard Vorhaus.
Lady Sings the Blues (1972) - Critics have acclaimed Diana Ross' film debut in this fictionalized biography of blues singer Billie Holiday. Prison, withdrawal, reunion, then a triumphant comeback are handled by Ms. Ross in this film. Richard Pryor is Piano Man, Billy Dee Williams is Lewis, the man she loves. Joseph Wilcots is cinematographer. Drama, 144 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Sidney J. Furie.
Ladykillers, The (2004) -- Elderly Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall) rents a room in her house to Goldthwait Higginson Dorr (Tom Hanks), a college professor, who starts rehearsing with his "medieval music ensemble" consisting of Gawain (Marlon Wayans), Pancake (J.K. Simmons), Lump (Ryan Hurst), and The General (Tzi Ma) in her basement. When Marva discovers that the "musicians" are, in fact, planning to rob a casino and refuses to take a share of the profit for her silence, the crew decides to silence her. Comedy, 104 min., DVD, Ethan & Joel Coen.
Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper (1988) - This cinematic biography of poet and novelist Langston Hughes features commentary by James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Leopold Sedar Senghor, and Gwendolyn Brooks and a performance by jazz drummer Max Roach. Volume 6 of the Voices and Visions series on American poets that originally aired on public television. Documentary, 56 min., VHS, dir: St. Clair Bourne.
Larry Lebby and Stone Lithography (1983) Documentary, 7 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Last Grave at Dimbaza (1974) - A documentary on apartheid in South Africa and its everyday reality for the majority of South Africa's population--the Blacks and other "colored" peoples. The film examines the harsh living and working conditions of Blacks, and the inequities to which they are subjected in white-ruled South Africa. Shot secretly by a black South African filmmaker and critic of that country's policies in 1973-4. Documentary, 45 min., VHS, dir: Nana Mahamo.
Last King of Scotland, The (2006) - Drama, 123 min., DVD, dir: Kevin MacDonald.
Last of the Blue Devils, The (1979) - A documentary recollection of music and musicians associated with Kansas City, in the 1930s features Count Basie and his orchestra, Big Joe Turner, and Jay McShann. Documentary, 90 min., 35mm, DVD, dir: Bruce Ricker.
Laugh, A Tear, A (1990) - A documentary, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, delineates the history of African American comedians and black comedy/humor in America from Bert Williams to the present. It includes clips from stand up comedy routines, television sitcoms, and movies. Documentary, 117 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Lazybones (1941) - Dorothy Dandridge is a dancing maid along with Peter Ray as a butler in a non-speaking role while Hoagy Carmichael sings and plays the piano. Music Performance, 3 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Dudley Murphy.
Lazy Days (1929) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
Leadbelly (1976) - Drama about the legendary blues composer-singer Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, the great American folk singer and 12-string guitarist who died in 1949 at the age of 60. The story is told in the context of the visit of John Lomax, the musicologist and collector of folk songs, made to a Louisiana prison in 1933 to record for the Library of Congress the repertoire of this black man renowned for his back-country songs. Drama, 126 min., 16mm, dir: Gordon Parks.
Lean on Me (1989) - A fictional depiction of Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman), the controversial principal of Eastside High School in Patterson, New Jersey, shows him standing against parents, teachers, and the state for his approach to the betterment of Eastside's students. Drama, 109 min., VHS, dir: John B. Avildsen.
Learning Tree, The (1969) - The film is based on the autobiographical novel by photo-journalist Gordon Parks. The film treats the lives of black teenagers growing up in Kansas in the 1920s. Joseph Wilcots is cinematographer; Parks composed the music score. Drama, 106 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Gordon Parks.
Legacy (2006) - This short documentary examines the legacy of slavery and it's effect on mother/daughter relationships in African Caribbean culture. Documentary, 17 min., DVD, dir: Inge Blackman.
Legacy: A Film by Tod Lending (2000) - Documentary, 90 min., DVD, dir: Tod Lending.
Legacy of a Dream (1974) - Narrated by James Earl Jones, the film conveys the drama and historical perspective of the 1950s and 1960s and shows the influence of those events on today. Earlier voter registration campaigns are contrasted to recent elections of Black mayors, officials and congressmen. Blue Ribbon Award American Film Festival, New York (citizenship category); First Prize Gold Medal and Special Jury award, Atlanta Film Festival. Documentary, 29 min., 16mm, VHS, 3/4", dir: Richard Kaplan.
Legacy: Bill Walker (1991) - Acting legend Bill Walker (1896-1992) is interviewed the year before his death. Produced by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation for the "Legacy" series. Interview, 66 min., DVD, dir: Terry Sanders.
Legacy of Torture (2007) Documentary, 28 min., DVD, dir: Andres Alegria.
Lemonade Suite (1981) - A performance of the dance "Lemonade Suite" with music by Kenneth L. Ware and choreography by Iris Rosa. The performance was produced by the Afro-American Arts Institute at Indiana University. Dance, 28 min., VHS, dir: John R. Winninger.
Let the Church Say Amen! (1972) - Focuses on the role of the contemporary black church from the viewpoint of a young man from his seminary experience to the pastorate. Received bronze medal in International Film and Television festival in New York. Documentary, 78 min., 16mm, dir: St. Clair Bourne.
Let Us Break Bread Together (1954) Documentary, 26 min., DVD, dir: Edward G. Bernard.
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) - The fourth sequel in the Lethal Weapon series. The film revolves around the plot to smuggle illegal aliens from China to work as virtual slaves in the United States. Danny Glover is Roger Murtaugh; Chris Rock, Lee Butters. Action, 127 min., VHS, dir: Richard Donner.
Let's Do It Again (1975) - Boxer Bootney Farnsworth (Jimmie Walker) is set up by Billy Foster (Bill Cosby) and Clyde Williams (Sidney Poitier) in a title match and the trouble begins when the bets are laid with mobsters. Comedy, 112 min., VHS, dir: Sidney Poitier.
Let's Scuffle (1942) - Short musical performance with Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. Music Performance, 3 min., 16mm, dir: n/a.
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II (1992) - The documentary tells the story of African American battalions focussing on the 761st, which spearheaded General Patton's Third Army and helped to liberate the concentration camps at Buchenwald, Dachau and Lambach. Documentary, 90 min., VHS, dir: William Miles.
Life (1999) - A series of unfortunate events befall Ray Gibson (Eddie Murphy) and Claude Banks (Martin Lawrence) in this comedic drama. Framed for murder by a southern sheriff, the two men serve life sentences but hold out hope that they will be exonerated. Comedy, 108 min., VHS, dir: Ted Demme.
Life and Debt (2001) - Jamaica won its independence from Great Britain in 1962, and in 1977, facing economic difficulties, it struck a deal with some economic institutions with the help of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The film shows that by the beginning of the twenty-first century the policy of "free trade" in the global economy has devastated the country. Documentary, 86 min., DVD, dir: Stephanie Black.
Life is a Saxophone (1985) - The film focuses on the oral interpretations of poet, Kamau Da'oud, recipient of Black American Cinema Society's 1985 Award of Special Merit, whose works are translated into several other mediums. Dadisi Sanyika interprets the poet's works through the martial arts, Washington through dance, Gale Fulton-Ross through sketching, and Roberto Miguel Miranda, Dadisi Wells Komolafe, and Nirankar Singh Khalsa through music. Documentary, 58 min., VHS, dir: Saundra Pearl Sharp.
Lift Every Voice and Sing: The Negro National Anthem (2001) - This program about the Negro National Anthem includes a talk given by Julian Bond about the book he co-edited entitled Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Celebration of the Negro National Anthem, 100 Years, 100 Voices as well as a performance of the song by The Black Voices of the University of Virginia Choir. The event took place February 13, 2001 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Television, 42 min., DVD, dir: n/a.
Lilies of the Field (1963) - Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for his role as a traveling vegabond who befriends a group of immigrant nuns and helps them build a missionary school. Drama, 94 min., VHS, dir: Ralph Nelson.
Lion Tamer, The (1934) - Animated Amos n' Andy short. Children, 9 min., VHS, dir: George Stallings.
Lions of the African Night (1987) - This nature documentary produced by the National Geographic Society captures intimate glimpses of lion behavior in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Documentary, 60 min., 16mm, dir: Carol & David Hughes.
Litany for Survival: The Life & Works of Audre Lorde (1995) - Audre Lorde's life and work embodied the intersection of three social protest movements: civil rights, women's rights and gay-lesbians' rights. This documentary shows Lorde as a charismatic person who lived life on her own terms. Documentary, 56 min., VHS, dir: Ada Gay Griffin & Michelle Parkerson.
Little Beau Porky (1936) - Children, 8 min., VHS, dir: Frank Tash.
Little Black Sambo (1933) - This film is an animated version of the old story with Sambo as a black child with a dog, and a mother who seems to be part of the American scene. This tiger doesn't turn to butter but is outwitted and physically beaten by Sambo and his dog. Comedy, 8 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: U. B. Iwerks.
Little Daddy (1931) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
Little Ol' Bosko and the Cannibals (1937) - Children, 7 min., VHS, dir: Hugh Harman.
Little Ol' Bosko and the Pirates (1937) - In this cartoon a frog colony impersonates Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers. Children, 7 min., VHS, dir: Hugh Harman.
Little Ol' Bosko in Bagdad (1938) - Children, 10 min., VHS, dir: Hugh Harman.
Little Papa (1935) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Gus Meins.
Little Rascals Collection, The (2008) -This eight disc set spans the years of 1929-1938. It contains all 80 original Rascals theatrical "talkies" in their entirety. All were produced by Hall Roach and distributed by MGM. The films in the set are listed on the BFC/A website by title. Comedy, 1,375 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Little Rascals Comedy Classics Vol. II (1929-1938) - This video includes shorts from Our Gang television series. Pay as You Exit (1936); Three Smart Boys (1937); Our Gang Follies (1938); Shivering Shakespeare (1929); The First (1934); Fishy Tales (1937). Children, 90 min., VHS, dir: Hal Roach.
Little Sinner (1935) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Gus Meins.
Live and Become (2005) Drama, 140 min., DVD, dir: Radu Mihaileanu.
Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100 (1999) - Ruth Ellis talks about her childhood in Springfield, Illinois & being black, out & gay. She witnessed three riots during her life, one race riot in Springfield, in 1908; and one arson-turned-riot in Detroit in 1969. She lived her adult life in Detroit with her partner, Ceciline "Babe" Franklin. Ellis joined the local lesbian group as a senior citizen, who adopted her as their living legacy and source of guidance. Documentary, 60 min., VHS, dir: Yvonne Welbon.
Lockin' Up (1997) - Documentary, 30 min., VHS, dir: T. Nicole Atkinson.
Long Kiss Goodnight, The (1996) - In this collaboration between star Geena Davis (as Samantha Caine) and her now ex-husband, director Renny Harlin, Samuel L. Jackson also stars as a detective hired to uncover Samantha's past as a government assassin. The film received lukewarm reviews but it seems reviewers felt no need to malign Jackson's performance in particular. Action, 120 min., VHS, dir: Renny Harlin.
Long Walk Home, The (1990) - Odessa Carter (Whoopi Goldberg), a maid for the white Thompson family, is caught in the middle of the Montgomery bus boycott. Mrs. Thompson (Sissy Spacek) stands up to white racists and her husband (Dwight Schultz) when they discover she is helping car pool "Negroes" to work. Drama, 98 min., VHS, DVD, dir: Richard Pearce.
Longines Chronoscope: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1954) Documentary, 12 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Lookout Sister (1948) - Musical with a minor plot featuring Louis Jordan and his Caledonia Tympany Band. Musical, 64 min., VHS, dir: Bud Pollard.
Looking for Langston (1989) - Character prose and poetry are used to pay homage to the life of poet, activist, Langston Hughes in this film by Afro-British filmmaker Isaac Julien. Drama, 45 min., VHS, dir: Isaac Julien.
Lorenzo Tucker in Early Black Films, 1926-1946 (1985) - This short documentary presents film clips featuring the multidimensional actor Lorenzo Tucker. He is also interviewed by Valerie Shaw and Tucker comments on his long career in film and theater as well as the state of black actors and filmmakers in Hollywood in the mid-1980s. Documentary, 25 min., VHS, dir: Mark A. Johnson.
Lorraine Hansberry: The Black Experience in the Creation (1975) - Traces life of Lorraine Hansberry, leading black playwright from childhood to her early death at the age of 34. Excerpts from her plays include: A Raisin In The Sun, The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window, Les Blancs. Includes interviews and rare photographic stills. Documentary, 35 min., 16mm, dir: Ralph J. Tangney.
Losing Ground (1982) - Professor Sarah Rogers (Seret Scott) and her artist husband (Bill Gunn) come to an impasse in their marriage. In her research on and pursuit of ecstasy, Sarah meets Duke Richards (Duane Jones) who changes her life. Billie Allen plays her mother; Gary Bolling is one of her students who involves Sarah in his film. Drama, 86 min., 16mm, dir: Kathleen Collins.
Lost Boundaries (1949) - Based on the true story of a New Hampshire physician "passing" for white and his children who are unaware of their Negro blood. Mel Ferrer and Beatrice Pearson play the mulatto physician and his wife. Drama, 99 min., 16mm, dir: Werker.
Lost in the Stars (1974) - Musical version of Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, stars Brock Peters as Stephen Kumalo in search of his son Absalom who has left his home for Johannesburg. The tragedy of two families dramatizes the tragedy of South Africa. Much of the film was shot in Jamaica. Musical, 97 min., DVD, dir: Daniel Mann.
Lou Stovall (1983) Documentary, 14 min., DVD, dir: Sharon A. Reinekens.
Love & Basketball (2000) - Marks the directorial debut of Gina Princes-Bythewood about childhood sweethearts (Omar Epps) and (Sanaa Lathan) who become basketball stars. Drama, 127 min., DVD, dir: Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Love Business (1931) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
Love Bug (1920) - This short piece, only existing footage, dramatizes the love triangle between two women and a man. The man writes a love note to two women and are told to wait at the same destination for his arrival. Before he arrives, the women learn they share the same note and are equipped with a straight razor and gun to confront the man. Comedy, 3 min., VHS, 3/4", dir: Richard E. Norman.
Love Jones (1997) - Written and directed by newcomer Theodore "Ted" Witcher, the film focuses on a middle-class black couple Darius (Larenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long) who in their 20s fall in and out of love. Drama, 110 min., VHS, dir: Theodore Witcher.
Love on the Range (1939) - This George Pal Puppetoon pits good vs. evil in a battle for Cowgirl, the cowboy way. Children, 6 min., VHS, dir: George Pal.
Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) - Keenen Ivory Wayans plays Shame, a down-on-his luck ex-policeman turned private investigator. He's hired by Sonny (Charles S. Dutton), a drug enforcement official, to track down his former girlfriend Angela (Salli Richardson) and $20 million in stolen drug money. With his trusty sidekick Peaches (Jada Pinkett Smith), Shame aims to make money and clear his name in what becomes his wildest and most dangerous assignment. Comedy, 100 min., VHS, dir: Keenen Ivory Wayans.
Lucky Corner (1936) Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Gus Meins.
Lucky Ghost (1941) - Mantan Moreland does a bug-eyed bit in this comedy successor to Mr. Washington Goes to Town. Comedy, 69 min., VHS, dir: William Beaudine.
Lumumba (2000) - As Lumumba awaits his execution, he relives his memory of his leadership towards Congo's independence from Belgium. Drama, 115 min., DVD, dir: Raoul Peck.
Lumumba: La Mort du Prophete (1992) Documentary, 70 min., DVD, dir: Raoul Peck.
Lying Lips (1939) - Elsie Bellwood (Edna Mae Harris), a young nightclub singer, is convicted and sent to prison for the murder of her aunt. Benjamin (Carman Newsome) who is in love with Elsie and Detective Wanzer (Robert Earl Jones) set out to prove her innocence. They do and Elsie and Benjamin are married after she is pardoned and released from prison. Drama, 60 min., VHS, dir: Oscar Micheaux.
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