Jazz on Film: Jack Johnson
- When
- June 20, 2015
- Where
-
Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Brown Auditorium
1001 Bissonnet Street
Houston,TX 77006 - Cost
- $2 - $2013
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents the Jazz on Film screening series.
Organized by guest curator Peter Lucas, Jazz on Film includes classic and rare performance films made from the 1920s-1950s presented by jazz film archivist Mark Cantor; a 60th anniversary screening of Otto Premingerâs classic The Man with the Golden Arm; Shirley Clarkeâs gritty Harlem story The Cool World, and the 1970 documentary film Jack Johnson featuring a score by Miles Davis.
Jack Johnson
Directed by Jim Jacobs
1970, USA, B/W
90 minutes
Galveston boxer Jack Johnson became the first black world heavyweight champion in 1908.
This rarely-seen documentary traces his unbelievable story, including his fights, the racial outrage surrounding his career, and his flamboyant lifestyle.
The film interweaves archival footage and still photographs with first-person narration voiced by actor Brock Peters and a jazz score by Miles Davis, recorded shortly after his landmark Bitches Brew album.
Independent curator Peter Lucas has created exhibitions, film series, and public programs in association with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Menil Collection, Aurora Picture Show, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle International Film Festival, and Experience Music Project.
Houston Press named him Best Curator in 2012 and 2013. Lucas is also an active artist, with an upcoming gallery show at Art League Houston and a film and installation project being created as part of Rice University’s Space Arts Initiative.
