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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = John Henry
| name = John Henry
| image = Joh Henry 2000.jpg
| image = Joh Henry 2000.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Mark Henn]] (director), Robert Ty Stanton (art direction)
| director = [[Mark Henn]] (director), Robert Ty Stanton (art direction)
| producer = Alfre Woodard
| producer = Steven Keller
| story = Shirley Pierce (screenplay) and Broose Johnson and Tim Hodge (story supervisor)
| story = Shirley Pierce (screenplay) and Broose Johnson and Tim Hodge (story supervisor)
| based_on = [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]]
| based_on = [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]]
| narrator = Alfre Woodard
| narrator = Alfre Woodard
| starring = Alfre Woodard and Geoffrey Jones
| starring = [[Alfre Woodard]]<br>Geoffrey Jones
| music = [[Stephen James Taylor]]
| music = [[Stephen James Taylor]]
| animator = Barry Temple, Theodore Ty
| animator = Barry Temple<br>Theodore Ty
| layout_artist = Andrew Edward Harkness
| layout_artist = Andrew Edward Harkness
| background_artist = Peter Raymundo, Kevin A. Barber, Janelle C. Bell-Martin, James W. Elston
| background_artist = Peter Raymundo<br>Kevin A. Barber<br>Janelle C. Bell-Martin<br>James W. Elston
| cinematography =
| cinematography =
| editing = Beth Collins-Stegmaier (animation editor)
| editing = Beth Collins-Stegmaier (animation editor)
| studio = [[Walt Disney Feature Animation|Walt Disney Productions]]
| studio = [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]]
| distributor = Buena Vista Pictures
| distributor = [[Buena Vista Pictures]]
| released = October 30, 2000
| released = {{film date|2000|10|30}}
| runtime = 10 min.
| runtime = 10 min.
| country = United States
| country = United States
Line 25: Line 25:
}}
}}


'''John Henry''' is a 2000 animation short film from [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] directed by [[Mark Henn]]. The short was released on October 30, 2000.
'''John Henry''' is an [[animated cartoon|animation]] [[short film]] from [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] directed by [[Mark Henn]], released on October 30, 2000.


The short is based on African American folk hero [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]].<ref name="DisneyJohnHenry">{{cite news | url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/a-black-hero-comes-up-short/Content?oid=2262183 | title=A black hero comes up short | newspaper=[[Orlando Weekly]] |publisher=Euclid Media Group | date=February 22, 2001 | access-date=November 8, 2015 | author=Hill, Jim}}</ref>
The short is based on African American folk hero [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]].<ref name="DisneyJohnHenry">{{cite news | url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/a-black-hero-comes-up-short/Content?oid=2262183 | title=A black hero comes up short | newspaper=[[Orlando Weekly]] | publisher=Euclid Media Group | date=February 22, 2001 | access-date=November 8, 2015 | author=Hill, Jim}}</ref>


==Synopsis ==
==Synopsis ==
A narration by John's wife Polly explains his early life: said to have been "born with a hammer in his hand," John was a slave alongside Polly until they were [[Emancipation Proclamation|granted their freedom]] and soon married. As a wedding gift, Polly gives John a massive sledgehammer forged from his old shackles and John promises her that he will die holding that hammer. Searching for land to settle down in, they come across a group of other former slaves hired to build railways, with the promise that they will receive land if they complete the railways in a shorter period of time than required. However, the hard work tires almost all the men. John, who has the stamina of ten men, inspires them to keep working and never give up.
A narration by John's wife Polly explains his early life: said to have been "born with a hammer in his hand", John was a slave alongside Polly until they were [[Emancipation Proclamation|granted their freedom]] and soon married. As a wedding gift, Polly gives John a massive sledgehammer forged from his old shackles and John promises her that he will die holding that hammer. Searching for land to settle down in, they come across a group of other former slaves and Irish immigrants hired to build railways, but the contract they are working under to receive land if they complete the railways only grants a shorter period of time than required. However, the hard work tires almost all the men. John, who has the stamina of ten men, inspires them to keep working and never give up.


Despite all this, the contract is cancelled, as his place is taken by a steam drill. John refuses to back down and proves that man can achieve more than a machine by challenging the steam drill driver to a race for who can finish the railroad first. He builds the railway and even a tunnel straight through a mountain, the steam drill breaking before it can finish. However, the group's celebration turns bittersweet as John collapses from exhaustion. Realizing he won't live much longer, Polly gently places his hammer in his hand before he passes away with a smile on his face. The short film ends by showing that the story was being told to John's young son in their house in the town that now covers the land that John gave them. The child is scared by some thunder, but Polly tells him that it's just the sound of his father, hammering in the sky.
Despite all this, the contract is cancelled by the amoral business owner and the workers' place is taken by a steam drill. John refuses to back down and proves that man can achieve more than a machine by challenging the steam drill driver to a race for who can finish the railroad first. If John can best the machine, the land promised to the workers must be delivered. He builds the railway and even a tunnel straight through a mountain, the steam drill breaking before it can finish. However, the workers' celebration turns bittersweet as John collapses from exhaustion. Realizing he won't live much longer, Polly gently places John's hammer in his hand before he dies with a smile on his face. The short film ends by showing that the story was being told to John's young son in their house in the town that now covers the land that John's sacrificial victory gave them. The child is scared by some thunder, but Polly tells him that it's just the sound of his father, hammering in the sky.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Alfre Woodard]] - Polly / Narrator (voice)
* [[Alfre Woodard]] - Polly / Narrator (voice)
* Geoffrey Jones - John Henry (voice)
* Geoffrey Jones - John Henry (voice)
* [[Tim Hodge]] - MacTavish (voice)
* [[Tim Hodge]] - MacTavish (voice)
* Dave Murray - Thomas (voice)
* Dave Murray - Thomas (voice)
* Carrie Harrington - Singing Voice of Polly (voice)
* Carrie Harrington - Singing Voice of Polly (voice)


==Home media==
==Home media==
The DVDs ''[[Disney's American Legends]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|title=Disney's American Legends}}</ref> and ''Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection'' featured this short.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|title=Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray Combo Pack}}</ref> Apart from its DVD release, the short film was only shown in one theatre in the USA, namely Hollywood's [[El Capitan Theatre]]. There, the short film was shown six times in three days.<ref name="DisneyJohnHenry"/>
The DVDs ''[[Disney's American Legends]]'' as released in 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|title=Disney's American Legends|access-date=2021-04-05|archive-date=2008-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205013906/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection'' featured this short.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|title=Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray Combo Pack|access-date=2021-04-05|archive-date=2008-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205013906/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/disneysamericanlegends.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Apart from its DVD release, the short film was only shown in one theatre in the USA, namely Hollywood's [[El Capitan Theatre]]. There, the short film was shown six times in three days.<ref name="DisneyJohnHenry"/>


==References==
==References==
Line 48: Line 48:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|tt0219105}}
* {{IMDb title|0219105}}


{{Disney's Short films}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios short films}}
{{John Henry}}
{{John Henry}}


[[Category:2000 animated films]]
[[Category:2000 animated short films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:Disney animated short films, 2000s]]
[[Category:2000 children's films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:2000s Disney animated short films]]
[[Category:2000s American animated films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:African-American animated films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 19th century]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the United States]]
[[Category:Films scored by Stephen James Taylor]]
[[Category:Films scored by Stephen James Taylor]]
[[Category:English-language short films]]

Latest revision as of 20:47, 21 December 2024

John Henry
Directed byMark Henn (director), Robert Ty Stanton (art direction)
Story byShirley Pierce (screenplay) and Broose Johnson and Tim Hodge (story supervisor)
Based onJohn Henry
Produced bySteven Keller
StarringAlfre Woodard
Geoffrey Jones
Narrated byAlfre Woodard
Edited byBeth Collins-Stegmaier (animation editor)
Music byStephen James Taylor
Animation byBarry Temple
Theodore Ty
Layouts byAndrew Edward Harkness
Backgrounds byPeter Raymundo
Kevin A. Barber
Janelle C. Bell-Martin
James W. Elston
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures
Release date
  • October 30, 2000 (2000-10-30)
Running time
10 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

John Henry is an animation short film from Walt Disney Animation Studios directed by Mark Henn, released on October 30, 2000.

The short is based on African American folk hero John Henry.[1]

Synopsis

[edit]

A narration by John's wife Polly explains his early life: said to have been "born with a hammer in his hand", John was a slave alongside Polly until they were granted their freedom and soon married. As a wedding gift, Polly gives John a massive sledgehammer forged from his old shackles and John promises her that he will die holding that hammer. Searching for land to settle down in, they come across a group of other former slaves and Irish immigrants hired to build railways, but the contract they are working under to receive land if they complete the railways only grants a shorter period of time than required. However, the hard work tires almost all the men. John, who has the stamina of ten men, inspires them to keep working and never give up.

Despite all this, the contract is cancelled by the amoral business owner and the workers' place is taken by a steam drill. John refuses to back down and proves that man can achieve more than a machine by challenging the steam drill driver to a race for who can finish the railroad first. If John can best the machine, the land promised to the workers must be delivered. He builds the railway and even a tunnel straight through a mountain, the steam drill breaking before it can finish. However, the workers' celebration turns bittersweet as John collapses from exhaustion. Realizing he won't live much longer, Polly gently places John's hammer in his hand before he dies with a smile on his face. The short film ends by showing that the story was being told to John's young son in their house in the town that now covers the land that John's sacrificial victory gave them. The child is scared by some thunder, but Polly tells him that it's just the sound of his father, hammering in the sky.

Cast

[edit]
  • Alfre Woodard - Polly / Narrator (voice)
  • Geoffrey Jones - John Henry (voice)
  • Tim Hodge - MacTavish (voice)
  • Dave Murray - Thomas (voice)
  • Carrie Harrington - Singing Voice of Polly (voice)

Home media

[edit]

The DVDs Disney's American Legends as released in 2001[2] and Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection featured this short.[3] Apart from its DVD release, the short film was only shown in one theatre in the USA, namely Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre. There, the short film was shown six times in three days.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hill, Jim (February 22, 2001). "A black hero comes up short". Orlando Weekly. Euclid Media Group. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "Disney's American Legends". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  3. ^ "Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray Combo Pack". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
[edit]
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