Native Land (1942): cast, story & where to watch
1942 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1942, Native Land is a drama and history film directed by Leo Hurwitz, running about 89 minutes. “The Picture with the Most Exciting Story of Our Time!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. By the start of World War II, Paul Robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. Robeson committed his support to Paul Strand and Leo Hurwitz’s political semidocumentary Native Land. With Robeson’s narration and songs, this beautifully shot and edited film exposes violations of Americans’ civil liberties and is a call to action for exploited workers around the country. Scarcely shown since its debut, Native Land represents Robeson’s shift from narrative cinema to the leftist documentaries that would define the final chapter of his controversial film career.
Who’s in it. Native Land stars Paul Robeson as Narrator, Fred Johnson as Fred Hill, Mary George as Hill's Wife and John Rennick as Hill's Son, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Native Land has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Native Land page.
If you liked it. Fans of Native Land tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Native Land (1942)?
- In GB, Native Land is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Native Land worth watching?
- Native Land holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Native Land?
- Native Land stars Paul Robeson, Fred Johnson, Mary George, John Rennick and Amelia Romano.
- When was Native Land released?
- Native Land was released in 1942, with a runtime of about 89 minutes.