Book review – “Oscar Micheaux” by Patrick McGilligan

McGilligan is the best movie biographer working consistently today so every new work of his is worth consideration. I bought this without knowing anything about Micheaux and found it a fascinating, rewarding work, done with McGilligan’s typical thoroughness and skill. Michaeux was a black film director in the first half of the twentieth century, which is remarkable enough – he was also a best selling author, made over forty films, from the silent to the post WW2 era, made highly personal works. Although his reputation has increased greatly over the years he’s still not that well known, at least outside black historical circles – partly because he rarely worked with anyone who became well known. There were exceptions, the leading one of which was Paul Robeson, who starred in Michaeux’s Body and Soul. You also may have heard of Lorenzo Tucker, the “black Valentino” who was Michaeux’s leading man.

Michaeux’s career began oddly – he was a Pullman porter, then became a farmer, and did okay at it for a couple of years too despite living out in the middle of nowhere (the only black person in his region), then losing a lot of his money in land speculation; he turned his experiences into a novel, the rights to which were sought by black filmmakers and he turned director himself. At first I thought McGilligan spent too much time on Michaeux’s farming career but the period proved invaluable to his career – it provided him with material for which he returned to again and again in his films and books, but also taught him a lesson… never ever give up. (Was Michaeux the first farmer turned director? As in proper farmer, not hobbyist?)

Michaeux never enjoyed a consistent stream of luck - when he had a hit film he struggled getting money back, when he found a wealthy backer he ended up in court with them, when he made money via some best selling novels towards the end of his life he blew it on one more film and died poor. He didn't even enjoy consistent support from the black press. But he kept going at it - good on him.