"Did someone force the black actors to audition for the roles in the movies you're referencing?" - "lemerin"
In all actuality, yes they were. The 70's was one of the worst periods for Hollywood, and Broadway. Due to the financial crisis of the 70's Hollywood had difficulty making a profit and so did shows on Broadway. As a way to bring in what could be called "Old White Dollars" Broadway producers began plugging White actors and actresses of the 30's, 40's, and 50's in their productions as a way to lure in ticket buyers. White television actors and actresses sought Broadway as a means of sustaining a living, which caused British actors and actresses who were finding employment in the United States on Broadway, were forced to move back to England, which is where many Black American actors and actresses where finding stable employment.
The few gospel themed traveling stage shows a.k.a. urban theater circuit a.k.a. Chitlin' circuit at those times were nowhere as profitable as what Tyler Perry shows are drawing in now-a-days, which forced many Blacks to audition for roles in Blaxploitation films.
Can you imagine an actor who trained for theater at such places as the Actors Studio, and the Neighborhood Playhouse, which has graduated such notable actors and actresses as: Gregory Peck, Tony Randall, Jeff Goldberg, Christopher Walken, and Paul Newman, and played as the lead character the Moor, in at lease six productions of the Shakespearian play, Othello in the U.S. and in Europe, be forced to act in the starring role in two Blaxploitation films and play a minor role in another. That actor was William Marshall who starred in the movies, "Blacula", "Scream Blacula, Scream", and had a minor role in "Abby".
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imdb2-32
9 years ago
I have to say that the financially broke Hollywood in the 70s produced some
of the finest movies in cinematic history.
The 70s were like U.S. New Wave.
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