South Africa's first feature film aimed largely at a black audience, starring township musicians, and introducing the incomparable Dolly Rathebe.

Living in a rural area of South Africa before the apartheid era, Jim leaves for Johannesburg to look for work. There, he is mugged by a gang, who leave him unconscious. He is found by a friendly night-watchman, who looks after him and finds him a job as a waiter at the night-club where the night-watchman's daughter, Dolly, is a singer. One day, when Dolly is rehearsing, Jim joins in and sings with her.

South Africa, (1949) 58 minutes 52 min, B&W, 35 mm

Script: Donald Swanson
Image: Ronald Shears
Art Design & Art Design: Gloria Green
Music: The African Inkspots, The Jazz Maniacs
Cast: Dan Twala, Daniel Adnewmah, Dolly Rathebe, Sam Maile, The African Inkspots,...

Production :
Warrior Films
Johannesburg (Eric Rutherford, Donald Swanson, Gloria Green)

With Daniel Adnewmah, Dolly Rathebe, The African Inkspots, Sam Maile, Dan Twala.

A simple story of a country lad who comes to the city to look for work, takes some knocks while adjusting to city life, but comes out on top when his singing talent is discovered.

In 1949, two expatriate Britishers, producer Eric Rutherford and director Donald Swanson, made African Jim. It is a simple story of a country lad who comes to the city to look for work, takes some knocks while adjusting to city life, but comes out on top when his singing talent is discovered.

Using musicians from the townships (it discovered South Africa's great singing star Dolly Rathebe), the film was a sensation for black audiences, who had never before seen their own heroes on screen. Its value as a historical document cannot be overstated; these images from the past reflect a vibrant township culture that was soon to be destroyed by apartheid.
(Peter Davis, Villon Films)

Rights:
Peter Davis
Villon Films
4040 Ontario St.
Vancouver, BC
Canada V5V 3G5
tél.: +1 604 879 6042
peter@villonfilms.com

contact copy:
British Film Institute
21 Stephen Street
London W1P 2LN
tél.: +44 207 957 89 51
fax: +44 207 580 58 30