Collection | Films by Title: "N"
Listed by title followed by year of release, annotation, genre, running time, format, and director
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N Word, The (2004) Documentary, 86 min., DVD, dir: Todd Larkins.
Naked Acts (1996) - The film focuses on Ce-Ce, a would-be actress and daughter of a former blaxploitation movie star and sexpot. After four years, Ce-Ce visits her mother and comes to terms with her own sexuality. Comedy, 87 min., VHS, dir: Bridgett Davis.
Nanook of the North (1922) - Documentary, 70 min., VHS, dir: Robert Flaherty.
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property (2002) - Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831 is one of the highlights in America's history of racial confrontation. The documentary examines the uprising and its leader, as well as the multiple ways that they have been retold and recreated. Documentary, 60 min., VHS, dir: Charles Burnett.
Nationtime, Gary (1972) - This documentary chronicles the first National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana. It includes speeches by former Gary mayor Richard G. Hatcher, Jessie Jackson, Coretta Scott King, and others. Narrated by Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Documentary, 58 min., VHS, dir: William Greaves.
Native Land (1942) - Taken from testimony before the Senate Civil Liberties Committee in 1938, this film re-enacts violations of the Bill of Rights. The various incidents are linked together by Paul Robeson's narration, commentary and songs. Score composed by Marc Blitzstein. Drama, 88 min., VHS, dir: Leo Hurwitz & Paul Strand.
Native Son (1951) - Based on the classic novel by Richard Wright, the film concerns a young black man, Bigger Thomas, who is hardened by life in the slums of Chicago and whose efforts to free himself prove hopeless. Richard Wright plays the role of Bigger, Gloria Madison is Bessie Mears. Footage of Chicago's south side, the locale of the novel, is intercut with scenes shot in Argentina. Drama, 91 min., VHS, dir: Pierre Chenal.
Native Women Coaling a Ship at St. Thomas, D.W.I. (1903) - Produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company. Documentary, 1 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Native Women Washing a Negro Baby in Nassau, B.I. (1903) - Produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company. Documentary, 2 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Native Women Washing Clothes at St. Vincent, D.W.I. (1903) - Produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company. Documentary, 1 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Natural Born Gambler, A (1916) - Features Bert Williams in a comedy, with music and narration added, in which he does his inimitable, mimed card playing act. Initially silent with sound added later. Comedy, 22 min., 8mm, dir: G. W. Bitzer.
Navy Steward, The (1948) Documentary, 20 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Negotiator, The (1998) - Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) and Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) are nice-guy Chicago police officers who are seasoned hostage negotiators in trouble in this thriller directed by African American director, F. Gary Gray. Action, 140 min., VHS, dir: F. Gary Gray.
Negro Colleges in Wartime (1945) - This shows how Black colleges prepared men and women for war by having them take classes to learn how to make machine parts, work in aviation plants, and make weapons. Produced by the Office of War Information. Documentary, 9 min., VHS, DVD, dir: n/a.
Negro In Entertainment, The (1950) - The Negro in Entertainment is a musical short featuring many black stars and hosted by Bill Lund and Etta Moten, smoking cigarettes. Presented by Chesterfield Cigarettes. Musical, 11 min., 16mm, DVD, dir: William Trent, Jr.
Negro in Industry, The (1965) Documentary, 11 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Negro in Sports, The (1950) - A Chesterfield Cigarettes produced short highlights the talents of Jesse Owens, Mary McNabb, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Larry Dolby, Luke Easter, The Harlem Globetrotters and others. Narrated by Jesse Owens; Bill Lund acts as host. Documentary, 11 min., 16mm, DVD, dir: William Trent, Jr.
Negro Sailor, The (1944) Documentary, 29 min., DVD, dir: Henry Levin.
Negro Soldier, The (1943) - A Frank Capra supervised film about life for black soldiers in the U.S. Army, World War II. Carlton Moss narrates and plays the minister; Bertha Wolford the mother; Lt. Norman Ford the son. Sequences show participation of Afro-Americans in past wars from the Revolutionary war to World War I. Premiered in London, October, 1943; shown in the Pentagon, January 1944. Documentary, 43 min., 16mm, DVD, dir: Stuart Heisler.
Negroes with Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power (2003) - Documentary, 53 min., DVD, dir: Sandra Dickson and Churchill Roberts.
Nellie, the Beautiful Housemaid (1908) - Drama, 1 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Nelson Mandela: Journey to Freedom (1996) - The film documents the release of Nelson Mandela from the Robbin Island Prison on February 11, 1990 after 30 years of incarceration. Includes archival footage of Mandela's daughter, Zindzi, during a 1985 speech. Documentary, 50 min., VHS, dir: Kevin Burns.
New Jack City (1991) - Detective Stone (Mario Van Peebles), determined to arrest drug dealer Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) and his sidekick Gee Money (Allen Payne), brings unorthodox policeman Appleton (Ice-T) and Officer Peretti (Judd Nelson) together. Appleton convinces ex-junkie Pookie (Chris Rock) to inform on Brown. When finally brought to trial, Brown blames society and gets a light sentence only to be killed by the Old Man (Bill Cobbs). Michael Michele plays Selina; Bill Nunn is Duh Duh Duh Man; Christopher Williams is Kareem Akbar; Vanessa Williams plays Keisha; Tracy Camilla Johns is Uniqua; Nick Ashford is Rev. Oates; Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is Hawkins; Thalmus Rasulala plays the Police Commissioner. Drama, 101 min., VHS, dir: Mario Van Peebles.
New Orleans (1947) - "Long-hair" music and jazz collide in this story of the birth and evolution of the Basin street sound. Film features jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Woody Herman and Billie Holiday as a maid/music performer. Musical, 89 min., VHS, DVD, dir: Arthur Lubin.
Newsreel (1937) - Produced by Movietone News. Included on DVD with The Duke is Tops, Hi De Ho, and Trolley Ahoy. Documentary, 6 min., DVD, dir: n/a.
Nia (1980) - This short animation is based on a story, "Nia, Finding the Green Stone," by Alice Walker. "Nia" is a Swahili word meaning "to discipline oneself for the good of the community." Drama, 5 min., 16mm, dir: Carol Munday Lawrence.
NIA Project, The: Image of African American Lesbians (1993) - This documentary deals with the stereotypes that are directed toward African American lesbian women. It tries to contradict the stereotypes by showing that lesbians can be humorous, non-male haters, mothers, daughters and grandmothers. Documentary, 17 min., VHS, dir: Natalie Hutchison.
Nice Colored Girls (1987) - The film documents aboriginal women in a society domainated with European features. Drama, 16 min., VHS, dir: Tracey Moffatt.
Nigerian Art: Kindred Spirits (1990) - This documentary surveys contemporary Nigerian art and examines its roots in traditional African art and society; profiles eleven of Nigeria's painters, sculptors, textile artists, et. al. Documentary, 58 min., VHS, dir: Carroll Parrott Blue.
Nigger in the Woodpile, A (1904) - Theft in the woodpile by a "Negro Deacon"--white in blackface--is discovered when the loaded stick of dynamite placed there by the farmer explodes. Comedy, 4 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Night 'n' Gales (1937) - Comedy, 10 min., DVD, dir: Gordon Douglas.
Night of the Quarter Moon [aka Flesh and Flame] (1959) - When it is discovered that the wealthy young Roderic "Chuck" Nelson (John Drew Barrymore) has married a quadroon, the press, family and a supposed friend move in to wreck the marriage. Julie London plays the "passing" role; James Edwards is her lawyer and Nat "King" Cole, who sings one number, a night-club friend. Drama, 96 min., 16mm, dir: Hugo Haas.
Night of Truth, The (2004) Drama, 100 min., DVD, dir: Fanta Regina Nacro.
Night on Earth (1992) - Occupants of five taxi cabs in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome and Helsinki are headed for some unexpected destinations. Giancarlo Esposito plays a New York cab driver. Drama, 128 min., VHS, dir: Jim Jarmusch.
Nightjohn (1996) Drama, 96 min., DVD, dir: Charles Burnett.
NO! (2002) - This documentary examines the painful question of why the black community in America keeps silent when black men rape and abuse black women. The issue is discussed by eminent African American educators, including Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin and Dr. Johnnetta Cole. Documentary, 94 min., DVD, dir: Aishah Shahidah Simmons.
No Maps on My Taps (1979) - George T. Nierenberg's film is a portrait of three surviving hoofers, Sandman Sims, Chuck Green, and Bunny Briggs. Rare film footage and personal interviews provide insight into the social history and performance development of jazz tap dancing. Documentary, 58 min., 16mm, dir: George T. Nierenberg.
No Regret (Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien) (1992) - Riggs film portrays the strength of HIV victims. It forces the audience to confront the stigma and shame that surrounds AIDS. Documentary, 38 min., VHS, dir: Marlon Riggs.
No Way Out (1950) - In this film, a bigoted psychotic white man blames a black doctor (Sidney Poitier) for his brother's death. When the doctor refuses to allow an autopsy, the brother organizes his equally prejudiced friends into a mob to attack the black area of town. Even though a subsequent autopsy proves the doctor's innocence, he is still the object of hatred and scorn. Drama, 106 min., VHS, dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Noah's Arc: The Complete First Season (2005) Television Series, 200 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Noah's Arc: The Complete Second Season (2006) Television Series, 180 min., DVD, dir: N/A.
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008) Drama, 101 min., DVD, dir: Patrik Ian-Polk.
Nothing But a Man (1964) - Drama about a Southern black man and his wife in a hostile society. Ivan Dixon is Duff, Julius Harris his father, Abbey Lincoln, the schoolteacher he quits his railroad job to marry. Drama, 91 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Michael Roemer.
Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life (2007) - Documentary, 101 min., DVD, dir: Peter Spirer.
Notorious Elinor Lee, The (1940) - Robert Earl Jones plays a fighter on the rise and Edna Mae Harris, the woman who tries to stop him by using her wiles and getting him to "throw" the fight. Juano Hernandez plays a fight trainer. Drama, 72 min., VHS, 3/4", dir: Oscar Micheaux.
Nutty Professor, The (1996) - In a remake of the Jerry Lewis classic, Professor Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy), a brilliant but lonely chemistry teacher, turns himself into Buddy Love to impress his colleague Carla (Jada Pinkett Smith). Comedy, 95 min., VHS, dir: Tom Shadyac.
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