''We Work Again'' is a 1937
ephemeral film produced by the
Work Projects Administration to promote its employment and training efforts for African-Americans during the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. Various jobs are shown, including public construction projects, domestic service and health care training, adult education programs and performing arts. It is particularly noted for containing the only existing footage of the 1936
Federal Theatre Project production of ''
Macbeth
''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'', directed by
Orson Welles and featuring an all-black cast.
Production
''We Work Again'' is a Work Projects Administration documentary short subject produced in 1937 by civil rights activist Alfred Edgar Smith, a member of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
's
Black Cabinet, and
Pathé News. The film presents the positive impact of WPA employment and training programs for African-Americans. Scenes of unemployment are contrasted with scenes of those working in public building projects, land records management and nursery schools, being trained in health care and domestic service, and taking part in adult education classes. The film features programs available for visual artists, musicians, writers and theatre workers.
''We Work Again'' has gained considerable attention because it includes the only known footage of the Negro Theatre Unit's
1936 production of ''
Macbeth
''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'' staged by
Orson Welles. This footage consists of the last few minutes of the play. Maurice Ellis and Charles Collins appear as Macbeth and Macduff, indicating that the filming took place after July 16, 1936, when Ellis succeeded
Jack Carter.
A copy of the film is preserved by the
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
. The film has also been released on DVD on the 4-disc box set ''Treasures from American Film Archives'', compiled by the
National Film Preservation Foundation. It is one of the very few films of its genre ever to be released on DVD or any other home format. The film is in the public domain and as such has appeared on several websites, including the
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...
.
Cast

* William Lawrence,
directing an
art song
An art song is a Western world, Western vocal music Musical composition, composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical music, classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is ...
ensemble
*
Juanita Hall, leading a
spiritual choir ("
Ezekiel Saw the Wheel")
''Voodoo Macbeth''
* Maurice Ellis:
Macbeth
''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
* Charles Collins:
Macduff
*
Eric Burroughs:
Hecate
* Zola King: Witch
* Josephine Williams: Witch
* Wilhelmina Williams: Witch
See also
*''
Treasures from American Film Archives''
References
External links
*
*
Preserved Films: Footage of Orson Welles's "Voodoo" Macbeth (1937)—
National Film Preservation Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:We Work Again
1937 short documentary films
1937 films
Black-and-white documentary films
American short documentary films
American black-and-white films
Documentary films about United States history
Works Progress Administration
Orson Welles
Documentary films about African Americans
Articles containing video clips
1930s English-language films
1930s American films
English-language short documentary films