Within Our Gates (1920) - Oscar Micheaux Silent Film

Abandoned by her fiancé, an educated negro woman with a shocking past dedicates herself to helping a near bankrupt school for impoverished negro youths. Within Our Gates was produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux in 1919. He is considered to be the first African-American director of feature films and this is the first such film still in existence.
Cast (IMDB): Evelyn Preer as Sylvia Landry; Flo Clements as Alma Prichard; James D. Ruffin as Conrad Drebert; Jack Chenault as Larry Prichard; William Smith as Detective Philip Gentry; Charles D. Lucas as Dr. V. Vivian; Bernice Ladd as Mrs. Geraldine Stratton; Mrs. Evelyn as Mrs. Elena Warwick; William Stark as Jasper Landry; Mattie Edwards as Jasper's Wife; Ralph Johnson as Philip Gridlestone; E.G. Tatum as Efram, Gridlestone's Servant; Grant Edwards as Emil Landry; Grant Gorman as Armand Gridlestone; Leigh Whipper ; Jimmie Cook as (uncredited); S.T. Jacks as Reverend Wilson Jacobs (uncredited).
More Information:
IMDB: www.imdb.com/ti...
Internet Archive: archive.org/det...
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.o...

[@niccirich3510]

whoever dislikes this film should be ashamed lol. This is the most impressing film I've ever seen with real African American actors, not racist jerks in "blackface". I'm so proud that the first (publicly) accomplished Black director is from a town 3 hours from me!!!

[@lifeisarhyme1]

Thanks for making this historic film available on KZbin.

[@momofri6643]

The San Francisco Silent Film festival is showing a restored version of this film this year, if anyone is interested.

[@psalm37v4]

One of the first silent films I've been able to understand (at least for the most part) and enjoy, for its excellent acting and screenplay. Many, many thanks for sharing.

[@dallerina100]

Thank you for uploading Micheaux's film!! If it wasn't for you it wouldn't be accessible to the public. Thank you! !

[@robertmerrick2389]

I love this film. it has great historical and social significance!

[@charlesmicheaux4121]

"Your self image is so powerful it unwittingly becomes your destiny." Oscar Micheaux

[@RETROGEMS]

I really want to thank you for sharing these classic Oscar Micheaux films. It's a wonderful resource for those of us who are old film buffs and also interested in the African-American contribution to cinema. I first heard of Micheaux from watching the old documentary "Midnight Ramble" and have been wanting to see some of his films, ever since. :-)

[@SuperflySister]

thank you for downloading this rare film

[@beautifulblue]

Thank you for uploading this! I have to watch it for school and can't find it anyhere!!

[@RossanaRobertson]

Thank you so much for uploading this classic film.

[@monetravenell]

God bless you for posting this!! More people should know about Oscar Micheaux's work.

[@FilmGordon]

Absolutely stunning that a print of this film still exists . . . and it could be loaded online; thank God for KZbin!!!!

[@nitrateglow]

Oh my goodness, I've been wanting to see this forever! Thank you so much for the upload!

[@PsalmsPoetic]

This was great to watch. To see the society of African Americans in this era is amazing. Oscar Micheaux is the most determined independent director that, perhaps, has ever made a film. He got it done against tremendous odds and produced good work to boot. I'm not sure if folks exist like that anymore.

[@negativefree5857]

A classic historical gem, thank you riverbends1

[@marlongaines3838]

I spent 13,000 dollars in 2011 on tuition for two quarters in a well known film/art institute in Salt Lake City, UT. When I asked the professor of the film history about Oscar Micheaux. He had only heard of but never seen any of Oscar Micheaux work. I started looking for another school. Amazing work. I wonder if Oscar and Sophia Stewart have any thing in common?

[@JustAnotherHumanist]

Thank you or uploading this! Very interesting film!

[@robertsmith-qb2ke]

Delighted to see these rare films become generally available. Have read about Micheaux and other early black film makers, but apart from big studio films such as HALLELUJAH, CABIN IN THE SKY, GREEN PASTURES, STORMY WEATHER etc, they have been impossible or very hard to see unless one lives in the US or major cities or is old enough to have seen them on first release. Keep up the good work! Robert Smith

[@dennoose]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS UPLOAD!

[@maj1216]

I wish that someday, Oscar Micheaux's lost film, 'The Homesteader' is found. It would be a great find. It's great knowing there are still as many as there are available, but you can't help but want to see his first film. Thanks for uplading this and other films you have uploaded, to make it so more people can learn of this man and his films, and to maybe lead their way to the 'race film' genre, in general. Not many people are familiar it existed.

[@marybailey8490]

wonderful!!!! I enjoyed this firm...thanks for sharing...

[@FinesseSoFoxy]

someone needs to restore this...

[@charlesmicheaux4121]

Before Richard Wright and Native Son, there was Oscar Micheaux. Oscar Micheaux is the first Best Selling Black Author in America and we all know he was the first Black Filmmaker too. The Censors rejected WITHIN OUR GATES twice! Not one of my favorite films, but very important nonetheless.

[@Lady.Charis]

thank you for the upload

[@BlackAmericaUSA]

An interesting film. Thanks so much for sharing it.

[@StevePhillips]

Rather hard story line to follow but gripping from start to end: but surely it cannot be the first and last of its kind as stated above.

[@FVClass]

Great film. Can't believe I've never seen it before.

[@marknelson7661]

Hail Micheaux!

[@realhighcotton]

Wonderful!

[@MrSoulauctioneer]

I ''like'' how the only person in the film to use the ''n-word'' was a criminal that was intent on taking advantage of said people. I think more youth should see this and take that to heart.

[@shaunatate]

@maj1216 is it really lost??? I was hoping to find a copy online in the public domain. I just learned about his work today. Disappointed.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

Great film!!!!

[@diddymuck]

I understand the film is still incomplete as many scenes depicting abuse and murder were excised by the US film board prior to release.

[@robertsmith-qb2ke]

By the way, I do realise that William Keighley, King Vidor, Andrew Stone and Vincente Minnelli were not black, as were most of the people in higher-paid posts on other aspects of production. I also appreciate that black performers and labourers were shamefully treated by many of the studios. My point was in regard to all-black casts in feature films. Robert Smith

[@themansayz]

Anyone notice the lady who walks past and keeps looking at the actors staring at 19:41, she appears again at 19:58 and keep turning to look at the scene. I guess no one saw black people in front of a movie camera before.

[@metteholm75]

Who wrote the music? Do anyone know?

[@livefromplanetearth]

Rare

[@roter13]

best comment i've ever read on youtube

[@rdsweet]

Thank God this isn't a race. Who cares who is first? Hopefully, they are all drummajors for great future cinematography.