Paul Robeson Sings Mischa Spoliansky

The great Paul Robeson starred in a 1935 English film, Sanders of the River. Robeson was horrified at the final production, which turned out to be a paean to African colonialism, and disavowed the film. (Those interested can see it and the actor's five other British movies via a Criterion Collection release.) In 1938, Robeson acidly observed that, "It is the only film of mine that can be shown in Italy or Germany, for it shows the Negro as Fascist states desire him - savage and childish."

One saving grace of Sanders of the River may be that it provided Robeson with an opportunity to deploy his magnificent bass voice in service of four songs by the composer Mischa Spoliansky and lyricist Arthur Wimperis. The latter later worked on several well known films, including Mrs. Miniver.

Spoliansky was a gifted musician, born in Russia and resident in Germany from 1914 on. There, he had made a living writing songs and playing the piano, notably accompanying tenor Richard Tauber in recordings of German folk songs and Schubert's Winterreise. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Spoliansky moved on to London. Having developed a reputation through such popular German film songs as "Heute Nacht Oder Nie," he soon began working in the English film studios.

Sanders of the River: Nina Mae McKinney, Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks

Sanders of the River was among Spoliansky's first efforts in England. He wrote four songs for Robeson that HMV issued on the 78s that form today's post. Years later director Zoltan Korda claimed to have heard fishermen singing Spoliansky's music for the film on a remote river in the Congo. Well, that story may be questionable, but for sure these are fine compositions in definitive performances. Robeson is accompanied by an ensemble led by Muir Mathieson.

This is a companion to a post of Spoliansky's 1957 Saint Joan score, which is now available on the main blog. The Robeson singles here were refurbished from lossless files found on Internet Archive.