Black and White Bioscope

Black and White Bioscoperecovers a neglected chapter in the histories of world cinema and Africa. It tells the story of movie production in Africa that long predated francophone African films and Nollywood that are the focus of most histories of this industry. At the same time as Hollywood was starting, a film industry in Southern Africa was surging ahead in integrating production, distribution and exhibition. African Film Productions Limited made silent movies usingtechnical and actingtalent from Britain, the United States and Australia, as well as from Africa. These included not only the original 'long trek movie' and the prototype for the moviesZuluandZulu Dawn but also the firstKing Solomon's Minesand the originalBlue Lagoon, featuring African actors such as Goba, Tom Zulu and Msoga Mwana, who starred as the black revolutionary inPrester John. In this lavishly illustrated book, fifty movies are reconstructed with graphic photographs and plot synopses - plus quotations from reviews - so that readers can rediscover this long-lost treasure trove of silent cinema.