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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 1208

Body and Soul

1925102 minUnited States

Video edition: Wikimedia Commons
Original language: No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs: 92:18
Subtitles: No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Oscar Micheaux · Public domain

Synopsis

An escaped convict passes himself off as a minister and exploits the trust of a Black congregation. His interest in Isabelle threatens her relationship with his very different twin brother. Her mother's confidence in religious authority makes it especially difficult for the young woman to reveal the abuse behind the public image.

Cast

Paul Robeson

Mercedes Gilbert

Julia Theresa Russell

DirectorsOscar Micheaux

Behind the scenes

Oscar Micheaux gave Paul Robeson his film debut in a double role. State censors demanded repeated changes, and the surviving film reflects the shortened version approved after those interventions.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film reference Wikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 15, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

Paul Robeson — Gordon Parks , Office of War Information; cropped by Beyond My Ken ( talk ) 07:13, 3 February 2011 (UTC) · Public domain

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