September 14, 2009

Hallelujah (1929), one of the first major studio motion pictures to feature an all-black cast, was filmed primarily in eastern Arkansas. The film was the first attempt by popular director King Vidor to produce a talking movie, using an early form of sound dubbing. For his efforts, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. Shown here is a postage stamp issued in 2008 depicting a poster from the movie. The stamp was one of five issued in a set honoring classic black cinema.