The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-07-11
Cast Includes III
In Speaking Roles,
And 600 Extras

And D U " Extras
The greatest of Negro plays,
"The Green Pastures" is COM
pleted as a motion picture, and
will soon be shown in Detroit at
the United Artist Thebtre. Per-
sons who have closely watched IL
during the long months of produc-
ton declare it one of the most i'm
portant films ever made.
Superb Work
! That Rex Ingram, who headed
the all-Negro cast, did superb
work in the leading role of de
Lawd" was proved by an incident
the other day, when Jack Warner
expressed himself as very pleased
with the result of the picture, de-
clared Ingram one of the great
est artist Of all time, and present
ed him with a bonus in recogni-
ton of Ingrams superb artistry.
To Hollywood it was certain
mark of success for the first all
Negro production.
Ingram promptly purchased a
handsome trailer, a shining land
yacht" Marc Connolly, author of
THE Green Pastures" who direct
ed it as a motion picture, obtained
a bottle of fine champagne, broke
it over the bow of the trailer and
formerly christened it 1SilSer
Cloud" Then with the cheers of
Hollywood in his ears, Ingram
headed for the deep South and the
vacation he had been waiting for
during six months of continuous
work.
Ingram was born 40 years ago
on a Mississippi River Boat, the
Robert E. Lee, famed in story and
song. His father was a fireman on
the boat and his mother was re-
turning to their home in Cairo,
Illinois from st. Louis when he |
was born. Although Illinois says
he is a native of that state, Mis-
souri, and Kentucky also claim
him.
Gets Degrees
Graduated from Urban Military
Academy in Los Angeles, he went
to Northwestern University where
he received a degree of Doctor of
Medicine, won the coveted Phi Bet
ia Kappa key and was a star in
track, basketball, football and
baseball. His enthusiasm for a
medical career waned and he
sought motion picture employ
ment. His first movie job was as
an extra In "Tarzan of the Apes"
in 1920. He continued in movies
for several years, earning a bare
living, until David Belasco brought
Lulu Belle" to Los Angeles and
gave Ingram his first stage part.
Then followed many stage sue
cesses and motion pictures, in
Guiding The Ten Commandments"
king of Kings" "The Big Parade"
King Kong" Emperor Jones"
Trader Horn" Beau Geste" and
Captain Blood.
Ingram insists he never had a
role that equals his part as de
Lawd" in The Green Pastures"
AS a matter of fact, he was not
originally marked for the part. He
first was cast as adam" much
smaller role. Meanwhile, Marc
Connolly was searching for
suitable character for de Lawd."
Countless actors were tested but
Connolly could not find one who
met his exacting requirements. He
Knew that success or failure of
the film depended in large mea-
sure upon de Lawd." He finally
thought of Ingram. Previously he
had never considered him because
Ingram is only 40 and Connolly
had believed DE Lawd" should
be an older man. But the tests
| showed that Ingram possessed
the ageless dignity, sympathy, and
understanding that the role de-
manded. Connolly was enthusiastic
and, after a few scenes were made,
predicted the picture would bring
Ingram the greatest success Of his
| career.
The all-Negro cast included Ill
persons with speaking roles, of
whom % were in the stage play,
and more than 600 extras. Brought
to California were the 100 men,
bers of the famous Hall Johnson