The Gary American

British Unit Leaves For So. Africa
To Film "King Solomon's Mines"

Negro Principal in Unit Delayed on Account of
South African Laws

(By Rudolph Dunbar)

LONDON-(ANP) The Gaumont
British company, for some months
now, has been directing the film
of Rider Haggard's "King Solomon's
Mines" in their London studios. On
Friday a unit of the company
sailed on the "Arundel Castle" in
order to shoot the external scenes
of that film. In this unit there is
only one principal, who is Robert
Adams, the colored all-in wrestler
and law student.

He is to act the part of Twala
the usurper, who tries to get the
kingdom from Umbopa, played by
Paul Robeson. The air in South Af-
rica is poisoned with prejudice and
fear of the Negro, hence, before a
foreign Negro is permitted to visit
that country, he has to go through
the most rigid censorship, and in
addition he is placed under perpet-
ual surveillance, due to the South
African legislation. In view of this
fact the unit was held up for six
weeks, pending investigations into
Mr. Adams' integrity. Investiga-
tions due to color prejudice general-
ly entail a great deal of indignities.
That is the reason, I understand,
Paul Robeson with evasive polite
ness refused to go with the unit.

Weird Experiences

One knows nothing quite like the
story of this erstwhile school-
master, Robert Adams, who is carry-
ing a niche in the film world. For
sheer heart-breaking experiences

Adams' first three years in London
constitute the absolute limit. Pov-
erty and hardships are the best
incentives, and the best foundations
for a young man's success. Conse-
quently, the man who knows what
he wants and concentrates all his
energies in aiming at it will un-
doubtedly reach his goal.

Such has been the life of Robert
Adams, who has towered like an
imperishable rock in hardships, reel-
ing and swaying in the turbulent
storms of defeat and despair, with
concentration of purpose to achieve
his end.

All-in Wrestler

As a wrestler he was known in
the ring as "Black Eagle," and was
selected with international teams
for France, Sweden and other Eur-
ropean countries. For a short time
he was on the stage, and played
at the Westminster theatre in
"Toussaint L'Ouverture"
a play
written by C. L. R. James, who is
a West Indian from Trinidad. Ad-
ams was spotted for the films while
playing in "Stevedore" with Paul
Robeson at the Embassy theatre.
His first part in the film was when
he appeared as the cook in Capt.
Marryat's story "Midshipman
Easy." After that he played a com-
edy part as a friend of Paul Robe-
son in "A Song of Freedom."

A grand person, Robert Adams.
He is not the least bit affected by
his meritorious rise in the film
world.