Movies for Juneteenth
What do Samuel L. Jackson, Louis Gossett Jr., and Micky Dolenz have in common? Well, they're all going to help us celebrate Juneteenth the best way we know—by watching movies.
In fact, each of these four films constitute an overlooked part of film history in the Crescent City. Amazingly, they were all filmed before New Orleans gained, then subsequently lost, that highly attractive tax credit that made it "Hollywood South." So all these productions simply wanted to film in the greatest city on Earth. As we look towards the powerfully poignant observance of Juneteenth signifying the emancipation of all U.S. slaves in 1865, let us check out these classic films that redefine how Black life in the South was portrayed onscreen through the lenses of independence, class struggle, and even racism.
Night of the Strangler (1972)
Not to be confused with Dan Curtis' The Night Strangler, this misnomer of a movie stars Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz as Vance, a decent guy with the world's worst racist for a brother named Dan. You see, Dan is angry because their sister, Denise, is engaged to a Black man named Jake (Chuck Patterson). This sets off an unfortunate web of violence with killings running the gamut from knives and sniper rifles to more inventive tools such as snake venom and poisoned arrows—but absolutely no strangulation. The local priest, Father Jessie (also Patterson), must get to the bottom of why his parish population is dwindling fast, while simultaneously keeping it real.
Directed by New Orleans actor/filmmaker Joy N. Houck Jr. (Night of Bloody Horror, Creature from Black Lake), you may recall that his father owned a dynasty of theaters in the New Orleans area that bore his name from the Joy in downtown to Joy's Panorama 6. A hard-to-find film for many years, it was restored in 2015 by the good folks at the American Genre Film Archive. Featuring prominent support from the New Orleans Police Department, you can catch this on YouTube with a free trial of Screambox.
J.D.'s Revenge (1976)
Law student/cab driver Isaac (Black film icon Glynn Turman) gets hypnotized for fun at a Bourbon Street speakeasy then soon undergoes a gradual transformation into a dead 1940s gangster named J.D., to the utter shock and dismay of his girlfriend Christella (Joan Pringle). He becomes obsessed with a charismatic preacher named Elija Bliss and perceives as his enemy. The trouble is, not everything is what it seems.
Produced by the legendary drive-in king Sam Arkoff, this action-horror hybrid features some beautifully nostalgic photography by Blaxploitation cinematographer extraordinaire Harry J. May, not to mention an era-specific virtual tour of the gritty underside of Bourbon and the strip clubs we love. An undeniable highlight is none other than the Superdome in its original glory, one year after completion. Directed by Arthur Marks (Detroit 9000, Friday Foster), you can view this free time capsule on Tubi.
Cane River (1982)
Rescued from the point of extinction by the Academy Film Archive and Oscilloscope Laboratories in 2013, this charming tale of two African Americans from different sides of the tracks plays like a Romeo and Juliet for Creoles. Athletic specimen Peter (Gretna native Richard Romain) could've paved the way for future sports icons such as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders—football is mentioned and we see him playing baseball—but all he really wants to do is write poetry and connect with nature. While looking for inspiration, he meets Bohemian tour guide Maria (Tommye Myrick). They begin a whirlwind romance, much to the chagrin of their very different families. Will Maria's upcoming semester at Xavier University be the thing to break them apart, or will their love endure? Soundtrack artist Phillip Manuel sure seems to favor the latter with his infectious songs.
Filmed in Natchitoches and New Orleans, Cane River presents an interesting premise that touches upon colorism and the aftershocks of slavery. No stars are to be found here, unless you count this list's second appearance of that glorious arena at 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr. Sadly, writer-director Horace B. Jenkins passed away from a heart attack shortly after filming, which directly contributed to its shelving. Too bad he couldn't live to see this passionate project of his sit at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch this formerly "lost" classic as part of a free trial on Fandor.
Eve's Bayou (1997)
In this haunting, Southern Gothic drama, prominent Black physician Louis Batiste (Samuel L. Jackson) seems to spend more time with his female patients than with his lovely family, headed by wife Roz (Lynn Whitfield) and their three children. A stunning secret involving the eldest daughter, Cicely, will soon threaten to disrupt the entire family—particularly through the eyes and actions of the titular middle child, Eve, who may have just discovered Voodoo.
Co-starring soap opera legend Debbi Morgan as Aunt Mozelle—a Hoodoo practitioner—and the inimitable Diahann Carroll as competing "witch" Elzora, Eve's Bayou became the most commercially successful independent film of that year. Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Black Nativity, Harriet), this film undoubtedly contributed to greater nuance in contemporary Black cinema and would inspire future dynamic filmmakers such as Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, and Barry Jenkins. Lauded upon release, it was selected to the National Film Registry in 2008. Watch it for free on Plex or Prime Video.
