June 4, 2016 the astounding Deborah Riley Draper documentary film Olympic Pride, American Prejudice had its world premiere at the LA Film Festival in Culver City, California. The film which chronicles the 18 African American athletes who competed in the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, Germany at the height of Hitler's Nazi regime is a tour
de force from Deborah Draper. The 18 athletes who competed in track and field, boxing and boxing were Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Mack Robinson (the older brother of baseball player Jackie Robinson), Art Oliver, James Clark Atkinson, John Brooks, Dave Albritton, James LuValle, John Woodruff, Archie Williams, Frederick Pollard, Jack Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, Howard King, Willis Johnson, John Terry, Tidye Pickett, and Louise Stokes defied Hitler's notion of Aryan Supremacy. Since the German's filmed everything, there is tons of footage of the track and field competitions. Although Jesse Owens was well known for the four gold medals he won in Germany, the other 17 athletes were largely ignored once they returned home under Jim Crow laws.
Written and directed by Ms. Draper whose 2012 multi-award winning film Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution (covered in this blog numerous times over the years) was just a glimpse into where this filmmaker is headed. Her tenacity for digging into the souls of the individuals covered in her documentaries is trail blazing. The research that it took to create this film is amazing. Ms. Draper and her crew traveled across the USA and to Berlin and beyond to bring a creditable film to the screen. From the opening vintage footage of the 400 meter race to the end logging each of the athletes accomplishments during and after Berlin, this film will inspire and fill you with pride.
Executive produced and narrated by multiple Image and Grammy Award winner Blair Underwood, his well-tuned voice also resonates with the accomplishments of the athletes. The background music and the theme song " Find My Victory" written by Composer Cheryl Rogers for the film will fill you with emotion and if you find yourself shedding a tear, it's just a sign that the emotional ride was well worth it.
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| Executive Producer Blair Underwood, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, Executive Producer Michael Draper, Executive Producer Amy Tiemann and daughter Miranda and husband Michael at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival |
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| Lorrie Ivas and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the LA Film Festival screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the Arc Light Cinemas |
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| Eric Johnson and Shannon King Nash |
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| Executive Producer Blair Underwood, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival |
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| Caralene Robinson, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival |
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| Line Producer, Lacy Barnes, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Caralene Robinson on the red carpet at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival |
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| Executive Producer Blair Underwood and Evelyn Bakon Wheeler at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival |
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| Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, and Eric Johnson |
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| Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the Q&A after the screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the LA Film Festival |
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| DP Jonathan Hall, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, Executive Producer/Narrator Blair Underwood at the sold out second screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice |
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Lorrie Ivas, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper after the screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the LA Film Festival
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