The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-30

fighters, as yet filled with spirit
of savage independence, not realiz-
ing that they are pawns of French
imperialism, has recovered to some
extent from his feeling of humble
subservience.
Wounded and retired from the
army, Israel has married a French
girl. Lise (part taken by the talent
ed Barbara Bulgakov) and runs a
cafe in a seaport town, from which,
just at the end of the war, Ameri-
can troops are disembarking for the
voyage home.
The general atmosphere is not
bad at first. The drunken military
police, cursing France and all future
war, open the first scene. The wild
ly hilarious American Negro steve
dores, dressed in uniform so that
they can he forced to work for army
wages in France instead of drawing
real pay, are caricatured and bur-
lesqued, however. Still, there is a
general feeling made apparent that
war is done forever. and a general
agreement that if there is another
war, the thirp will have to run with
out them. They sing cover There"
meaning over there in America.
They sing "Mademoiselle from Ar
mentiers," only some verses Of
course. but it is song which casts
reflections on the personal purity
and COURAGE of the general officers
of the A. E. F. They gamble, drink,
and dance.
Israel wants to 81 home, but has
been afraid to tell his white French
wife the real reason why he cannot.
This woman. represented as en-
tirely venal, strikes up a Irritation
with Major Powell (acted by Rus
sell Hicks). commanding battalion
Of Negro troops. who comes to the
cafe to get drunk before embarking
for America. When he finds she is
married to Negro, he shows her
with CORY description Of lynch
ing Just what Southerners would do
to any "black basterd" that dared to
marry a white woman. and what
they would do to her. His first re-
action is that she has been tricked
into marriage with 'Nigger" and
that he must save her She is will
ing because she is furious at Du
Rois for not telling her of the serv-
ant status of Negroes in America.
When the major. coming out of
Lise's room to which she has rather
crudely enticed him, really finds
who has married Lise, he becomes
lust as determined to rescue Lise
from his abominable miscegenation.
taking the attitude that this vile and
filthy French woman has trapped
him. and is ruinire him. He is no
longer "Good Niger" but he is
an old servant of the American mas
ter class, and the major will stand
by him.
Israel makes a gesture Of man
hood, when he demands an account
ing of the major of his relations to
my wife" The major, still drunk,
is about to pulverize him, when
Simba Sar clarence Redd), an old
comrade in arms of Israel's, cuts in
to defend him. Simba Sar is the
complete foil to the American Negro
slave. fine outstanding barbarian,
proud and courageous After fast
fight, he is about to cut the majors
throat for him, when Israel goes
slave again, and shoots, not the ma
jor. but Simba Sar.
The contrast between the crawl
ing slave psychology of Israel and
his fellows and the barbaric manli-
moss of the African is well brought
Gut, but with an emphasis of SYM
pathy and approval for Israel.
The last act shows the major
proving" over and over again Tin
wavs that would never happen in
real life) that he has right to be
master; that he knows what is best
for the "Niocero and convincino-