THE GREEN PASTURES (1936) B/W 93m dirs: Marc Connelly, William Keighley

w/Rex Ingram, Oscar Polk, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Frank C. Wilson, George Reed, Abraham Gleaves, Myrtle Anderson, Al Stokes, Edna Mae Harris, James Fuller

The Scriptures, as seen by Marc Connelly, who not only co-directed the film but also co-scripted with Sheridan Gibney from his own stage play.

From The Movie Guide: "Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this is The Gospel According to Marc --- Connelly, that is. Using a series of brief sketches by Roark Bradford, Connelly and coscreenwriter Gibney fashioned an interesting --- though grossly racially stereotyped --- account of the Bible using an all-Black cast. ...

"In many ways, this is one of the best biblical films ever done. Mostly because it doesn't preach, just entertains, and in doing that, puts its lessons across with a minimum of effort. One of the best elements of the movie is the music by the Hall Johnson Choir, which functions as sort of a Greek chorus, singing tunes like 'When the Saints Go Marching In,' 'Let My People Go,' 'Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho' and many more."