New Short Film Celebrates Black History Month, Highlights Arkansas Legend Bass Reeves

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Actor Reginald Moore as Bass Reeves.

This fall, a new documentary film, Indians, Outlaws, Marshals and the Hangin' Judge, debuted. The film explored the myth, legend and reality behind federal Judge Isaac C. Parker, known as the "hangin' judge," who for 21 years after the American Civil War hanged 79 men on gallows that were nicknamed the "government suspender" in Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

Now, in conjunction with Black History Month, a short film created from the documentary tells the story of Bass Reeves, a legendary African American U.S. deputy marshal who worked with Judge Parker.

The nearly seven-minute film short, entitled Bass Reeves, 'Invincible' Black Marshal, centers on the no-nonsense lawman, considered a master of disguise who helped bring justice to a region infested with killers and thieves.

The short film can be viewed online. 

"Reeves worked for Judge Isaac C. Parker out of the federal court at Fort Smith, Arkansas, around the same time the U of A first opened its doors for classes," said Larry Foley, the film's director and producer, and chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. "He was commissioned to hunt down and capture outlaws hiding in Indian Territory."

Foley said Reeves was a former slave who worked for 32 years as a deputy marshal — and was the only marshal to begin with Parker's court and last until Oklahoma statehood in 1907.

The short film also features U of A Provost Charles Robinson, and pays tribute to the late history professor Dr. Nudie Williams and his research.

In Williams' research he noted, "Throughout his career, [Reeves] insisted that he had never started a fight, or drew first blood in a fight. Yet in the course of making arrests, his own belt was cut in two by an outlaw's bullet, his hat brim was shot through, his buttons were shot off his coat and his bridle reigns were shot out of his hands — all while pursuing all kinds of bad men."

Foley's team filmed parts of it in University of Arkansas Libraries' Special Collections, emeritus professor Dale Carpenter edited the piece, and it has a musical score composed by professor emeritus James Greeson. The School of Journalism and Strategic Media's Hayot Tuychiev served as the film's director of photography. 

Reginald Moore portrays Bass Reeves in the short film, and releasing it now is bittersweet, Foley said, because Moore recently passed away.

"Reggie was a delight. A sweet, talented man with an infectious smile and laugh that enchanted," Foley said. "Reggie was not an equestrian, so he was a tad nervous about portraying a legendary lawman who rode across Indian Territory to round up outlaws — on a horse. He powered through with his ever present, enlightening countenance that impressed us all. Happy trails, Reggie, until we meet again."

Moore also portrays Reeves in the full-length documentary film Indians, Outlaws, Marshals and the Hangin' Judge. Although set in the late 19th century, the documentary covers numerous topics that still resonate today, including racial bias, gun violence, Indian affairs and accusations of police brutality.

Already, the 80-minute feature documentary has been selected for screening at refereed/juried festivals, including the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, the Wild West Film Festival, the Your Story Matters Film Festival, the Southern States Indie FanFilmFest, the Made in Arkansas Film Festival, the Fayetteville Film Fest, the Reel East Texas Film Festival, the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival, and the Red Dirt Film International Festival.

Additionally, the documentary has recently won several awards and honors, including Best Documentary Award at the Wild West Film Festival, Semi-Finalist for Best Documentary Feature at the Your Story Matters Film Festival, and the Spotlight Documentary Film "Gold" Award.

The full feature film is available on DVD through the University of Arkansas Press.

Additionally, Foley is currently working on the upcoming documentary, If This Walk Could Talk, about the University of Arkansas' 150-year story.

The film will premiere in spring 2022 as the U of A celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first day of classes as part of its 18-month sesquicentennial celebration. 

It will feature contemporary interviews and essays from current and former students that will speak from the heart about how the university has shaped and impacted their lives.