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Emperor Jones (The Emperor Jones) (1933) Dudley Murphy

April 2nd 2026

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Charles S. Gilpin as Brutus Jones in the original production of Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones, which played 204 performances from 1920–21. Gilpin was the first African-American actor to play a major role in a white American company.

There is no use trying to add to what better men have already said in praise of Eugene O’Neill’s masterly study of terror of the supernatural, and of the superb performance of Charles Gilpin, a negro actor, in the title rôle. One can only hope that, when the run of The Emperor Jones is over, Mr. Gilpin will find other plays as well worthy of him. It took long years of effort and discouragement before he was given the opportunity of the O’Neill drama.

In no way are our producers more wasteful of genius than in their disregard of negro actors. What has become of Opal Cooper, who some seasons ago appeared with the Negro Players? Since that time, his opportunities have probably consisted of an offer to play one-fourth of a quartet in an uptown cabaret, and a chance to don a white cotton wig and say “Gord bless you, Marse Robert,” as an old family retainer in a heart-interest drama with its scene laid below the Thomas Dixon line.

—Dorothy Parker, review of The Emperor Jones in Ainslee’s, March 1921

Photo: Beinecke Library