Film Lens
The Search for Robert Johnson is a documentary that investigates the life of Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, hosted by John Hammond. The film covers various aspects of Johnson's life, including his birth date, place, parents, musical development, and his death in the late 1930s. Hammond travels through the American Deep South, visiting locations significant to Johnson's life, such as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, while interviewing people who knew him, including two of his girlfriends and blues musicians.
The film is structured around the fieldwork of Robert 'Mack' McCormick, a Johnson researcher. It presents new evidence about Johnson's life and features reenactments of significant events, such as a performance battle between Johnson and Johnny Shines. The documentary includes Johnson's music throughout, with performances by Hammond, Edwards, and Shines, providing a rich auditory backdrop to the exploration of Johnson's legacy.
Why Watch
- •Meet John Hammond, a key figure in blues history
- •Find out about Robert Johnson's mysterious death
- •See rare interviews with Johnson's girlfriends
Did You Know
•Robert Johnson's father, John H. Hammond, planned a concert for him at Carnegie Hall, but Johnson died before it could happen.
•Claude Johnson, Robert Johnson's son, was legally declared his son in 1998.
•The documentary first aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 1992.
•The film features a reenactment of a performance battle in Helena, Arkansas, between Johnson and Johnny Shines.
Perfect For
Blues music fansMusic history enthusiastsDocumentary lovers