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Before Citizen Kane and The War of the Worlds, leading Broadway actress Rose McClendon and producer John Houseman convince a gifted but untested 20-year-old Orson Welles to direct Shakespeare's Macbeth with an all-Black cast in Harlem. Reimagined in a Haitian setting, this revolutionary 1936 production, which came to be known as "Voodoo Macbeth," would change the world forever, but the road to opening night proves to be a difficult one. Orson and Rose - who is to play Lady Macbeth - clash over everything from scene blocking to crew hires, while Houseman contends with a congressman hell-bent on shutting down what he deems "communist propaganda." Welles and McClendon must overcome political pressure, personal demons, and protests to realize their groundbreaking vision. Based on True Events.

Media

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Bonus Materials

• Audio Commentary
• Actual 1936 footage from National Archives of the play that toured the country to interracial audiences.

Sales Points

• 14 Festival Wins and 3 Additional Nominations
• Comparable to films like Mank
• Comparable to films like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• For fans of Black History
• For fans of Cinema History
• For fans of Theater/Broadway History
• For fans of Cinema History
• For fans of Orson Welles

Press Quotes

'By all odds, my great success in my life was that play, because the opening night there were five blocks in which all traffic was stopped. You couldn't get near the theatre in Harlem. Everybody who was anybody in the black or white world was there. And when the play ended there were so many curtain calls that finally they left the curtain open, and the audience came up on the stage to congratulate the actors. And that was magical.'

     —Orson Welles, 1982 Interview

This retelling of a very innovative part of theater and African America history is precious.

     —Dwight Brown, National Newspaper Publishers Association

'Bridges is superb as the brash young Welles, carrying his character with steadiness through shades of behavior ~ from arrogance to vulnerability, from alcohol-soaked frustration and directorial uncertainty to selfless determination.

     —Herbert Paine, Broadway World Arizona

Inger Tudor is sensational as McClendon, the always poised, intensely dedicated mother of the company.'

     —Herbert Paine, Broadway World Arizona

A must-see film for fans of Orson Welles! Manages to rival similarly-themed films by other major filmmakers as one of the great biopics about Orson Welles!'

     —Tyler Hummel, Geeks Under Grace

Bridges may not look or sound like a young Welles, but he conveys the mix of showmanship, ambitious drive and character flaws that make the young director so intriguing.

     —Ray Kelly, Wellesnet

Bridges is compelling in his portrayal of Welles' descent from cocky boy genius to virtual lunatic. From the confidence and rakish charm to the myopia, misdirected anger and chemical dependency - he puts it all out there.'

     —Stuart J. Robinson, Lightbulb Communications

A moving tribute to an indelible slice of history, that is finally being shared and celebrated! One of Orson Welles most pivotal moments, right before Citizen Kane, brought beautifully to life.

     —Suzanne Marques, CBS TV Los Angeles

This story was hidden for far too long, along with Rose McClendon's wonderful legacy. Some say better late than never, but this story should be shouted from the rooftops, uncovering one of America's hidden jewels, that was always meant to shine!

     —Suzanne Marques, CBS TV Los Angeles

Bridges' star performance -- and let's face it, this may be an ensemble cast, but he is every inch the star here -- is a well-nigh fearless piece of work

     —Joe Leydon, Variety

The cast is rife with standout performances. Inger Tudor is a captivating actor playing a captivating actor, injecting the film with much needed gravitas and dignity.

     —William Bibbiani, The Wrap

...A vital piece of theater history. In particular, like Viola Davis in The Woman King, Inger Tudor resurrects an important historical Black woman who has been largely forgotten with an impressive, poignant performance.

     —Ed Rampell, The Progressive

A powerful story that needed to be told. The luminous Inger Tudor leads a talented cast in one of the most memorable films of the year.

     —Mike Sargent, WBAI-FM

Entertaining...[a] fascinating bit of theatre and film history, which any movie buff would certainly enjoy.

     —Monica Reid, Far Out Magazine

As McClendon, Inger Tudor is the standout in the cast, subduing her own character's illness to mentor Welles through the production with a knowing confidence and gravitas.

     —J. Paul Johnson, 25 Years Later

History buffs and theater nerds alike should check out this film adaptation of the unlikely story behind Orson Welles' staging of a Macbeth set in Haiti.

     —Jack Smart, The AV Club

This retelling of a very innovative part of theater and African American history is precious.

     —Dwight Brown, National Newspaper Publishers Association

...a remarkably strong snapshot of a historic period in Welles' life... a film produced by some daring creators trying to capture the lightning in a bottle that Welles himself captured in the early stages of his career.

     —Justin Howard Query, Movie Jawn

The ambitious scale of the project is impressive, as is how it so skillfully depicts an important moment in history.

     —Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

A fantastic example of team unity as there is never a sense of multiple voices trying to steer this project...with solid production design up and down the line and never a sense of doubt in the story that it is trying to capture.

     —Dave Voigt, In The Seats

A wholly professional endeavor...engaging all the way through.

     —Andy Klein, KPCC'S FilmWeek

Entertaining...there are many great performances, and the story still hues close enough to the original facts and savors some of its triumph. It's a story well worth retelling.

     —Will Coviello, The Gambit (New Orleans)

A complex portrayal of racial inequality, the human cost of creativity, and the achievements of Black culture. Highly Recommended.

     —K. Hench , The Sound View