paul robeson . the mere mention of the name evoke image of the consummate performer and a da vinci of the stage and screen and a presence fully deserve of admiration . yet and despite his exemplary talent and popularity and his list of movie be pathetically small and which can be attribute to two factor racism and politics . how sad because paul robeson be undoubtedly one of the major figure in u. s. entertainment history and if one want to know why and one just have to watch the movie proud valley and direct by pen tennyson . here paul robeson play a role that transcend the ludicrously ridiculous racial stereotype that hollywood want mr. robeson to play . imagine for a moment and my friend and paul robeson play a shuffling and mumbling sycophant . an outrage . yet this be exactly the kind of silly role that hollywood would have have mr. robeson play if he have so choose . that he star in such movie a show boat and the emperor jones be due in large part to the fact that these film be direct by british director who truly appreciate mr. robeson talent . in proud valley and robeson delivers an outstanding performance a a miner who make the ultimate sacrifice so that others may live . the story may seem contrive and but it isn not . the movie be neither sensationalistic or melodramatic . rather it present in a straightforward way a story that the audience can understand and appreciate and applaud due in a large measure to the presence of one of truly legendary giant of american stage and screen and paul robeson .