There’s no star quite like the glittering, charismatic, and forever modern Josephine Baker. In the book Josephine Baker’s Cinematic Prism my guest Terri Simone Francis explains why Baker’s movies, while a small part of a phenomenal career are an important and enduring part of her legacy. Dr. Francis has also recently introduced a collection of four restored Josephine Baker films currently streaming on The Criterion Channel. We talked about the remarkable screen presence, agency, and appeal of this unique dancer, singer, and actress.
You can learn more about Dr. Francis' book, Josephine Baker’s Cinematic Prism and other works here.
Her introduction to the Josephine Baker collection on Criterion Channel is here.
Films discussed in this episode:
The Siren of the Tropics (Criterion Channel)
Princess Tam-Tam (Criterion Channel)
Zou Zou (Criterion Channel)
The French Way (available on Kanopy)
