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RAGTIME WARRIOR
A FORGOTTEN MUSICAL GENIUS! James Reese Europe fights racism, Army prejudice and the Germans when he takes command of the “Harlem Hellfighters” band, introduces jazz and pop tunes; he revolutionizes military band music forever. A WW1 action musical biopic; all music public domain. Can be adapted to TV miniseries. Professional Coverage: “Recommend” Dave Trottier (Author “The Screenwriter’s Bible.”) Multiple contest wins and placements.
Europe ultimately becomes the exclusive band leader for Vernon and Irene Castle, the internationally famous dance team. The Clef Club eventually performs at Carnegie Hall, the first all-Negro orchestra to so. James Reese Europe is acknowledged to be the most well-known conductor/composer in America at that time.
With the outbreak of World War 1, Europe puts his career on hold to join the newly formed all-black 369th Infantry Division -- destined to become the famed New York “Harlem Hellfighters” -- and forms their military band. He intends to use the band as an instrument to improve the living conditions and future hopes of Harlem’s young men.
Under the command of white Colonel William Hayward, the 369th Infantry Division overcomes ridicule, racism and indifference from the U. S Army. Europe remakes the military band using modern music dynamics and popular songs and jazz
The band is honored to play at a benefit for President Woodrow Wilson where Europe cleverly rebuffs an attempt by an Army officer to replace his black soloist with a white one.
During Army training in South Carolina, black soldiers under Europe’s command refuse to be provoked by white red neck racists. White soldiers take up the defense of their black comrades in a rollicking, glorious fight against the red necks.
After disembarking in France, Europe’s clever musicianship and use of the band keeps the brigade from being assigned to stevedore duty. The band performs, and fights, bravely and heroically during the war to great acclaim. Throughout the war Europe stays in touch with Bessie Smith who has now born his son and is managing the Clef Club in New York.
While serving on the front lines, Europe is wounded in “The Battle of Henry Johnson,” a famous WW I Medal of Honor incident. Though confined to the hospital he writes his famous song “Out In No Man’s Land.” The war ends and Europe returns to Bessie and his son, and leads the Harlem Hellfighters in a triumphant parade up New York’s Fifth Avenue.
The fame of the band leads to a recording contract and Europe takes the band on a nation-wide tour. During the tour he is tragically murdered by one of his bandsmen. His funeral service is conducted at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
30's Female Africa-American
30s African-American
STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
Screenplays
Jim specializes in screenplays based on historical true events (including musicals), bio/pics and/or disasters. In alphabetical order:
“BOJANGLES, EUBIE AND BERT!” Three Black musical legends of the past – Bert Williams, Eubie Blake and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – relive their show business success in spite of racism and theatrical bigotry.
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!Bubbling Under the Surface
After an elderly Holocaust survivor is nearly murdered in her nursing home bed, her family and the Muslim carer who saved her are pulled into a widening chain of antisemitic attacks, domestic violence, and police investigation that threatens both communities before the hatred spreads further.
AT THE MERCY OF FAITH
A former preacher, haunted by the tragic rape/murder of his twin sister, spirals into darkness as supernatural forces, both angelic and demonic, wage war for his soul.
e-DEAD
After a near-death experience, a woman discovers her dating app matches are ghosting her because they really are ghosts leaving her clues in order to solve their murders.
Whirlabout
A New York actor returns to his decaying hometown to care for his father, only to uncover dark family secrets, confront a lifetime of abuse, and face a harrowing moral reckoning that could either destroy—or finally heal—his fractured family.
Eternal Blessings
A dying woman enters a time portal to confront her criminal past, only to realize that what she seeks is in the present--but getting back is proving harder than she thought.
Psychotic USA
A dramedy. A razor-sharp satiric view of the laughable state of modern psychiatric treatment as seen through the lens of four patients in an asylum.
Virgin, Warrior, Priest, Hero
Over three decades, Lucy passes through innocence, violent delusion, tenderness, and ultimately grace - fractured versions of a soul struggling to survive a world that continually misreads her.
Henry, Henry
Convinced that he murdered a priest he caught abusing a child, Henry fractured into two warring personalities, until the insights of his illness help him bring down a dangerous child-trafficking network.
A LITTLE FAVOR
A former fighter pilot is asked, by the colonel who blackballed him, to do a little favor: use his quick reflexes to fly to the Sun, reach in and pluck out 2 off-course, discarded doomsday bombs before next Wednesday evening when they’ll explode, nudging the Sun, causing major global warming.
La Hacienda
An inter-racial Latino/White couple arrive in Mexico, during the Day of the Dead, to renovate a hacienda just purchased by her rich, white parents, they soon discover its haunted by the former residents who lived during the Mexican Revolution; they must figure out how to transform their crippling grief over losing a baby girl, so they aren't doomed to repeat the spirits' murderous past.
