Strange Fruit

Overview

In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, Bronx-born high school teacher Abel Meeropol wrote a poem entitled "Strange Fruit" that begins with the words: "Southern trees bear a strange fruit / Blood on the leaves and blood at the root." He set the poem to music and a few years later convinced Billy holiday to record it in a legendary heartbreaking performance. Intertwining jazz genealogy, biography, performance footage, and the history of lynching, director Joel Katz fashions a fascinating discovery of the lost story behind a true American classic. Written by Excerpted from Coolidge Corner Theatre Program Update

Details

Status

Released

Release date

May 20, 2002

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United States of America

Cast

Ethel Rosenberg,Cassandra Wilson,Billie Holiday,Milton Gabler,Farah Jasmine Griffin,Julius Rosenberg,Pete Seeger,Dorothy Thigpen

Director

Joel Katz

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

Homepage

Official site

IMDb

tt0350166