Milestone Films, with support from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will be distributing the re-release of George T. Nierenberg‘s beloved music doc SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY (1982) to theaters.
Unseen in cinemas for nearly thirty years, a brand-new 4K restoration of film will open for an extended run at the Film at Lincoln Center starting September 6th (with a nationwide rollout to follow).
Described as Roger Ebert as “one of the most joyful movies I’ve ever seen,” SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY is a vérité-style doc which chronicles the African American gospel music scene and features such icons as the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey (“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”); its matron, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith; and earth-shaking performances by Zella Jackson Price, the Barrett Sisters and the O’Neal Twins.
A blues player in the 1920s and 1930s, Dorsey made the choice to turn away from secular music to spread the gospel as a composer, songbook publisher, and organizer of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. In the film, the octogenarian Dorsey shakily, but movingly sings his famous composition, Take My Hand Precious Lord. (One of the most beloved gospel songs ever written, Precious Lordwas performed by Elvis Presley, Leontyne Price, Beyoncé Knowles, Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, and Nina Simone and was sung at the funerals of Dr. Martin Luther King and President Lyndon Johnson.)
The documentary explores the family relationships of the gospel performers and features moving discussions about changes in society and the rights of women. While making breakfast, singer Delois Barrett Campbell tries to convince her minister husband that herdreams of performing in Europe are as important as his mission. Delois also speaks with herdisciple, Zella Jackson Price about a woman’s place in gospel. The origins of gospel come under dispute when St. Louis native Smith insists that the idea for the first gospel convention started in her hometown while Chicago native Martin insists that the first location for the convention was the Windy City. Dorsey, Martin, and the Barrett Sisters were from Chicago while Smith and Price are St. Louis born and raised. The film was shot in both cities.
In addition, it features cinematography from Oscar-nominee Edward Lachman (CAROL) and Don Lenzer.
Loading…