African Jim

African Jim
Directed byDonald Swanson (film director)
Produced byEric Rutherford also known as Erica Rutherford
StarringDaniel Adnewmah, Dolly Rathebe, Dan Twala
Distributed byAfrica Film Library/ M-Net
Release date
  • 1949 (1949)
Running time
50 minutes
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageEnglish

African Jim, also known as Jim Comes to Jo'burg, is a 1949 South African film, directed by Donald Swanson and produced by Eric Rutherford. It features Daniel Adnewmah, South African Jazz singer Dolly Rathebe, The African Inkspots, Sam Maile, Dan Twala, and The Jazz Maniacs that included South African Jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader Bra Zacks Nkosi.[1] It is notable as the Republic of South Africa's first African feature-length film.[2] It was produced by Warrior Films.[3]

Plot synopsis

Jim (Daniel Adnewmah) leaves his tribal homeland to seek his fortune in the city of Johannesburg. As soon as he arrives, three gangsters mug him. When Jim regains consciousness, a friendly night watchman named Charlie (Dan Twala) takes care of him and helps him find a job. Unfortunately Jim gets fired, but with the help of the watchman's daughter, Julie (Dolly Rathebe), he gets a job in a nightclub as a waiter. When it is discovered that Jim has a talent for singing, he is offered the chance to sing on stage with Julie, as she is the club's female star. Just before his debut, he recognizes the gangsters who mugged him and overhears them plotting a robbery. Jim has to decide how to stop the crime and still be in time to perform.[4]

Cast

  • Daniel Adnewmah as Jim[5]
  • Dolly Rathebe as Julie[6][7]
  • Dan Twala as Charlie[8]
  • Samuel Maile as Pianist in club[9]
  • Zacks Nkosi as Principal Alto Saxophonist in club

References

  1. ^ Peter Davis, "African Jim", 12 November 2012 Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Villon Films.
  2. ^ "SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC". www.music.org.za. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  3. ^ Gugler, Josef (2003). African Film: Re-Imagining a Continent. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21643-4.
  4. ^ "Jim Comes to Jo'burg - ESAT". esat.sun.ac.za. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Daniel Adnewmah". IMDb. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Dolly Rathebe". IMDb. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Gauteng Film History". Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Dan Twala". IMDb. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Samuel Maile". IMDb. Retrieved 4 April 2023.


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