NOTHING BUT A MAN is an intense, narrative film from the early-1960’s. It documents the struggles of an African American couple trying to live in dignity and purpose in a tumultuous, small, southern town. Better known today as an activist and jazz pianist, former model and actress Abbey Lincoln stars as Josie, the quiet but determined school teacher who falls for an itinerant railroad worker –the actor Ivan Dixon who stars as Duff Anderson.
At first the love connection seems awkward and a complete mismatch of class, education and goals, but as the worker falls for her, she can see that he has loftier aspirations than that of an underpaid migrant worker toiling away in harsh conditions.
Filmed in the French “new wave” style of realism filmmaking, NOTHING BUT A MAN almost seems like a documentary of a small southern town and of the largely African American population who seem to be just one generation removed from the town’s enslavement era past. The film also chronicles the transitional period of many Black families and individuals during the Great Migration north to urban areas for more opportunity outside of the constraints of their rural towns.
We then see that the character Duff, he is a representation of the south’s changing economy from rural agriculture to the industrial north. When the character finds a job at the local mill, a new set of problems plague the newlyweds. Labor issues, unsafe working conditions and low pay are no longer acceptable for the couple and their growing family.
As Duff transforms from his former life of temporariness to one of permanence with his new family, the audience will find itself cheering on the love that Josie represents, but the audience will also fear the pitfalls that seem to beleaguer her relationship with Duff at every turn.
NOTHING BUT A MAN is an ode to the changing African American community during the mid-century, and a testiment to their resilience during a time of great upheaval and transformation.
The FILM REVIEW: Nothing But a Man (1964) – dir. Michael Roemer by Adrienne Anderson, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Tagged in: Abbey Lincoln, African American women in film, African Americans in film, film review, Ivan Dixon, Nothin' But a Man
