- Directed by
- Fraser, Harry L., American, 1889 - 1974
- Written by
- Hoerl, Arthur, American, 1891 - 1968
- Subject of
- Louis, Joe, American, 1914 - 1981
- Harris, Edna Mae, American, 1910 - 1997
- Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973
- Southern, Tom, American, 1906 - 1980
- Brooks, Jess Lee, American, 1894 - 1944
- Whitten, Marguerite, American, 1913 - 1990
- Brooks, Clarence, American, 1896 - 1969
- Turner, Mae, American, 1908 - 1999
- Muse, Clarence, American, 1889 - 1979
- Desmond, Cleo, American, 1880 - 1958
- Smith, Jewel
- The Plantation Chior
- The Creole Chorus
- The Big Apple Dancers
- Date
- 1938
- Medium
- acetate film
- Dimensions
- Duration: 65 Minutes
- Length (Film Reel 1): 1300 Feet
- Length (Film Reel 2): 1100 Feet
- Description
- A 16mm release print of the feature film Spirit of Youth. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with variable-area optical sound.
- In the opening scene, children can be seen playing outside. Young Joe Thomas’s mother calls him inside to clean himself before his father’s arrival from work. However, when his father returns to the family home it is revealed that he was injured by a falling castor and probably will never walk again. The rest of the film is loosely based on the life of American heavyweight boxer Joe Louis. The lead character, adult Joe Thomas, is played by Joe Louis himself. The film closes with a boxing match between Joe and a fellow boxer.
- Place filmed
- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
- Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
- New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Media Arts-Film and Video
- Type
- sound films
- black-and-white films (visual works)
- release prints (motion pictures)
- feature films
- 16mm (photographic film size)
- Topic
- Actors
- Boxing
- Families
- Film
- Race films
- Sports
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman
- Object number
- 2015.167.19.1ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown - Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.