I was never aware of this show, Soul or it's producer/host Ellis Haizlip, as it was on slightly before my time. But I'm also embarrassed that it wasn't something we should know about as part of television history. This show and documentary about the show was amazing. It showed some Black artists I had never heard of and Black culture I still haven't seen so authentically displayed on television even today. Fantastic movie!
Plot summary
The documentary explores the history of the series and the expression of Haizlip's expansive vision. We see archival footage from the series, including interviews with Amiri Baraka, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Muhammad Ali, and James Baldwin, among others, as well as performances from Patti LaBelle, Ashford and Simpson, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire. We hear performances from The Last Poets and see the footage of Nikki Giovanni interviewing James Baldwin that recently went viral on social media, reflecting the series' key role in bringing the poetry, literature, and the Black Arts Movement to the attention of the public, even today. Haizlip's slyly-provocative interviewing style, and his ability to get his guests to open up, takes viewers into an intimate Black sphere that was ordinarily kept hidden from public view. SOUL was a signature cultural artifact of the Black Power era, and we hear many of the militant voices that defined the era, thrilling some listeners while outraging others. Mr. SOUL captures that critical moment in our nation's cultural rise, whose impact continues to resonate across generations and cultures. With the current ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, and with our nation on the eve of a great racial reckoning, Ellis Haizlip's vision, his show, and the artists to whom he gave a platform, have become even more important now than ever.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Sidney Poitier as Self
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson as Self
Anna Maria Horsford as Self
Patti LaBelle as Self
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 958.28 MB
1280*714
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Definitely worth watching
Reviewed by
Entertaining and Touching
The documentary Mr. Soul! is entertaining and touching! It is remarkably interesting and makes you want to research more about Ellis Haizlip. He made a huge difference in the way African Americans were shown on television by creating his own show called "SOUL!. This movie focuses on African American music, dance and literature and how Mr. Haizlip used his program to show Black talent in positive ways.
Mr. Soul! is a movie about Ellis Haizlip's life as the creator, co-host and producer of an TV show featuring Black performers called SOUL!. It tells the story of Haizlip, the show, and the talent he showcased. You hear about his life and accomplishments from the performers he had on SOUL! and from his friends. You also see different footage from SOUL!, and pictures from Haizlip's personal life. The documentary also demonstrates how Haizlip went from being the producer of the show to also hosting it.
The main character is Ellis Haizlip. I love how kind he was and how he always made SOUL! fun for everyone. He gave so many different people opportunities to show off their talents on SOUL!. The director, Melissa Haizlip, is a talented storyteller. She uses different elements such as a narrator (Blair Underwood),videos from SOUL!, interviews from the shows' guests, and testimonies from his friends to tell Mr. Haizlip's incredible story. The movie includes great music from different Black culture genres such as Gospel and R&B. There are incredible dance numbers and bands shown that were also on the show. The film has some funny parts, and it will take you through different emotions, which makes it more interesting. I was incredibly surprised to learn that Mr. Haizlip was a television host before Oprah Winfrey and that he was a musician before he became a TV host.
The message of this film is that anything is possible and that sometimes you have to take risks to get where you want to be in life. For example, when Mr. Haizlip's friend decided not to host the show anymore, Mr. Haizlip took a risk and became the host and made history. Parents might need to look out for the use of the "N-word" in the beginning in a short video clip from one of the show's acts and mentions of suicide.
I rate Mr. Soul! 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids 13 to 18. Adults will love it as well! Reviewed by Tiana S., KIDS FIRST