
Native Land
By the start of World War II, Paul Robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. Robeson committed his support to Paul Strand and Leo Hurwitz’s political semidocumentary Native Land. With Robeson’s narration and songs, this beautifully shot and edited film exposes violations of Americans’ civil liberties and is a call to action for exploited workers around the country. Scarcely shown since its debut, Native Land represents Robeson’s shift from narrative cinema to the leftist documentaries that would define the final chapter of his controversial film career.
Top Billed Cast

Paul Robeson
Narrator

Fred Johnson
Fred Hill
Mary George
Hill's Wife
John Rennick
Hill's Son
Amelia Romano
Young Girl in Cleveland
Featured Crew

Leo Hurwitz
Director

Paul Strand
Director

Leo Hurwitz
Writer

Ben Maddow
Writer

Paul Strand
Writer

Paul Strand
Director of Photography
Lionel Berman
Editor

Leo Hurwitz
Editor
Bob Stebbins
Editor