Earlier 70's Black Movies List

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The early 70s and before represent the pioneering era of Black Cinema

Films like "Intruder in the Dust" and "Cabin in the Sky" broke barriers and paved the way for future Black films. "Stormy Weather" showcased the talents of Black entertainers, while "The Jackie Robinson Story" told the tale of a sports legend. "A Raisin in the Sun" brought a powerful play to the big screen.

Learn more about these films, their cast, trailers, and where to watch them.

Watch The Trailer:
Night of the Living Dead Trailer
Black Cast
Duane Jones
Release Date
October 04, 1968
Synopsis
A disparate group of individuals takes refuge in an abandoned house when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in search of fresh human bodies to devour. The pragmatic Ben does his best to control the situation, but when the murderous zombies surround the house, the other survivors begin to panic.
Night of the Living Dead

Carmen Jones

Drama, Romance, Music
Watch The Trailer:
Carmen Jones Trailer
Black Cast
Brock Peters, Diahann Carroll, Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Joe Adams, Nick Stewart, Olga James, Pearl Bailey, Roy Glenn
Release Date
October 27, 1954
Synopsis

The tale of the cigarette-maker Carmen and the Spanish cavalry soldier Don Jose is translated into a modern-day story of a parachute factory worker and a stalwart GI named Joe who is about to go to flying school. Conflict arises when a prize-ring champ captures the heart of Carmen after she has seduced Joe and caused him to go AWOL.

Carmen Jones
Black Cast
Ada Brown, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Katherine Dunham, Lena Horne
Release Date
July 21, 1943
Synopsis

Dancing great Bill Williamson sees his face on the cover of Theatre World magazine and reminisces: Just back from World War I, he meets lovely singer Selina Rogers at a soldiers' ball and promises to come back to her when he "gets to be somebody." Years go by, and Bill and Selina's rising careers intersect only briefly, since Selina is unwilling to "settle down." Will she ever change her mind? Concludes with a big all-star show hosted by Cab Calloway.

Stormy Weather

Cabin in the Sky

Fantasy, Music
Watch The Trailer:
Cabin in the Sky Trailer
Black Cast
Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Release Date
April 09, 1943
Synopsis

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory, where he learns that he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove that he deserves to be in heaven. He awakens, remembering nothing and struggles to do right by his devout wife, Petunia, while an angel known as the General and the devil's son, Lucifer Jr., fight for his soul.

Cabin in the Sky

Son of Ingagi

Horror, Science Fiction
Watch The Trailer:
Son of Ingagi Trailer
Black Cast
Zack Williams, Spencer Williams, Daisy Bufford, Laura Bowman
Written By Black
Spencer Williams
Release Date
December 01, 1940
Synopsis

A newlywed couple is visited by a strange old woman who harbors a secret about the young girl's father.

Son of Ingagi

The Emperor Jones

Drama, Music
Black Cast
Billie Holiday, Frank H. Wilson, Fredi Washington, Moms Mabley, Paul Robeson, Rex Ingram, Ruby Elzy
Release Date
September 29, 1933
Synopsis

Unscrupulously ambitious ,Brutus Jones escapes from jail after killing a guard and, through bluff and bravado, finds himself the emperor of a Caribbean island.

The Emperor Jones

The Bull-Dogger

Romance, Action, Adventure, Western
Watch The Trailer:
The Bull-Dogger Trailer
Black Cast
Bill Pickett
Release Date
January 07, 1921
Synopsis

A collection of shots showing the acts of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, where the famous black cowboy Bill Pickett shows his prowess in rodeos.

The Bull-Dogger
Black Cast
George Foreman, Muhammad Ali
Release Date
November 21, 1969
Synopsis

Universally accepted as a true icon of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali’s phenomenal achievements spanned sport, politics and religion. One man – photographer William Klein had comprehensive access to the events that shaped Ali’s legend. In 1964, the young gregarious Cassius Clay successfully defeated the seemingly invincible Heavyweight Champion of the World Sonny Liston – the manner of Clay’s victory and his amazing persona made him an instant superstar. Through this incredible period, and Clay’s subsequent rematches with Liston, William Klein enjoyed unrivalled access top Clay’s camp – witnessing at first hand Cassius Clay becoming Muhammad Ali and angering the American people with his allegiance to Islam. Forward to Zaire 1974, and the return of Muhammad Ali to the world stage to face another invincible champion George Foreman. As Ali reclaimed the crown for a second time, Klein was ever present, capturing the full story at close quarter.

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest

100 Rifles

Action, Adventure, War, Western
Watch The Trailer:
100 Rifles Trailer
Black Cast
Jim Brown
Release Date
March 26, 1969
Synopsis

When half-breed Indian Yaqui Joe robs an Arizona bank, he is pursued by dogged lawman Lyedecker. Fleeing to Mexico, Joe is imprisoned by General Verdugo, who is waging a war against the Yaqui Indians. When Lyedecker attempts to intervene, he is thrown into prison as well. Working together, the two escape and take refuge in the hills, where Lyedecker meets beautiful Yaqui freedom fighter Sarita and begins to question his allegiances.

100 Rifles

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Comedy, Drama, Romance
Watch The Trailer:
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Trailer
Black Cast
Beah Richards, Roy Glenn, Sidney Poitier
Release Date
December 11, 1967
Synopsis

Matt and Christina Drayton are a couple whose attitudes are challenged when their daughter brings home a fiancé who is black.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Lola Colt

Drama, Action, Western
Black Cast
Lola Falana
Release Date
October 22, 1967
Synopsis

A traveling "corps de ballet" is stranded in a small Western town, where the town is being terrorized by an outlaw named El Diablo. In order to hold the town at bay, he is holding several citizens as hostages. In an exciting turn of events, a medical student and Lola Colt, one of the dancers, rebel against El Diablo in an attempt to rescue the hostages.

Lola Colt

In the Heat of the Night

Drama, Mystery, Crime, Thriller
Watch The Trailer:
In the Heat of the Night Trailer
Black Cast
Sidney Poitier
Release Date
August 02, 1967
Synopsis

An African American detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racist southern town.

In the Heat of the Night
Watch The Trailer:
To Sir, with Love Trailer
Black Cast
Sidney Poitier
Release Date
June 14, 1967
Synopsis

Idealistic engineer-trainee and his experiences in teaching a group of rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London's East End.

To Sir, with Love

A Patch of Blue

Drama, Romance
Watch The Trailer:
A Patch of Blue Trailer
Black Cast
Ivan Dixon, Sidney Poitier
Release Date
December 10, 1965
Synopsis

A blind, uneducated white girl is befriended by a black man, who becomes determined to help her escape her impoverished and abusive home life.

A Patch of Blue

Nothing But a Man

Drama, Romance
Watch The Trailer:
Nothing But a Man Trailer
Black Cast
Abbey Lincoln, Gloria Foster, Ivan Dixon, Julius Harris, Yaphet Kotto
Release Date
January 01, 1964
Synopsis

A proud black man and his school-teacher wife face discriminatory challenges in 1960s America.

Nothing But a Man
Release Date
October 12, 1962
Synopsis

Alassane brings to life the Zharma legend of King Koda who, in order to test the loyalty of a subject, asks him to guard one of his rings for a year.

The Ring of King Koda
Watch The Trailer:
A Raisin in the Sun Trailer
Black Cast
Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ivan Dixon, Joel Fluellen, Louis Gossett Jr., Roy Glenn, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier
Release Date
May 28, 1961
Synopsis

Walter Lee Younger is a young man struggling with his station in life. Sharing a tiny apartment with his wife, son, sister and mother, he seems like an imprisoned man. Until, that is, the family gets an unexpected financial windfall.

A Raisin in the Sun
Watch The Trailer:
Anna Lucasta Trailer
Black Cast
Eartha Kitt, Frederick O'Neal, Isabel Cooley, James Edwards, Rex Ingram, Rosetta LeNoire, Sammy Davis Jr.
Release Date
November 01, 1958
Synopsis

Anna Lucasta is a 1959 film directed by Arnold Laven. Based on the 1944 play by Philip Yordan, this drama follows the trials and tribulations of Anna Lucasta (Eartha Kitt), a young black woman who turns to prostitution after her father kicks her out of the house.

Anna Lucasta

About the Author

Gil Santos

With over 20 years of experience in various narrative mediums, Gil Santos is the singular mind behind Culture Bay. His journey began as a lyricist and web developer, later expanding into crafting dynamic conference presentations and engaging YouTube sketches. This diverse background has allowed him to hone his storytelling skills across different fields. Santos' lifelong passion for sci-fi and fantasy, combined with his knack for interactive storytelling, culminate in Culture Bay - a fusion of innovative ideas and engaging narratives intended for all to enjoy.

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