He riffs on the Book of Ezekiel in Pulp Fiction, he deals with motherfucking snakes on a motherfucking plane, he tells kids to go the fuck to sleep, but Samuel L. Jackson isn’t just a swearing badass on film who’s probably the highest grossing actor of all time. He started in theater, then was introduced to director Spike Lee and eventually started working with Quentin Tarantino. Oh and he performed at the latest Super Bowl half-time show. Occasionally in his busy schedule, Jackson has done some historical roles, so let’s give him some MCM love!
George Harris in Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1987)
Walter Harper in “Since Walter,” I’ll Fly Away (1992)
Richard Greener in Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker (1994)
Louis Batiste in Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Stephen in Django Unchained (2012)
Major Marquis Warren in The Hateful Eight (2015)
George Washington Williams in The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Joe Morris in The Banker (2020)
St. Christopher in The Unholy Trinity (2024)
Doaker in The Piano Lesson (2024)
What’s your favorite of Samuel L. Jackson’s historical costume movie and TV roles?
I’ve only seen a couple of Jackson’s FF, so I need to catch up! Jackson brings such intensity to his roles, he never dissapoints.
I’m really interested in seeing Tarzan and The Banker. The costumes look great in both of those. How tall is that actor playing Tarzan? I mean, I thought Jackson was tall! And the green/grey ensemble on the actor to the right of Jackson is just yummy!
If I remember correctly Mr Alexander Skarsgard is six foot plus (A little research suggests he’s not quite 6’5”): interestingly, his little brother Bill Skarsgard is 6’3”.
Clearly those Skarsgard boys must be weaned on mead, wild boar and the blood of their enemies.
I’m stone cold certain the actor in that second image is NOT Mr Jackson (and I’m inclined to think that’s not him in the first image either).
On a less pedantic note, my favourite of his looks would have to be either the one he wears for the role of Mr Richard Greener or the one from THE UNHOLY TRINITY (Or possibly both together, as a study in his fascinating knack to play a whole range of character whilst being completely unmistakeable).
…
Also, is it just me or does the first of those screenshots from THE PIANO radiate weapons-grade “Bad child, NO BISCUIT!” energy?
I don’t mean to nitpick but that’s not Jackson in either of the first two pictures. I believe that’s Albert Hall in UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, and I’m sure it’s Bill Cobbs in I’LL FLY AWAY.
Also, for those interested, the whole UNCLE TOM’S CABIN tv movie from 1987 is on YouTube. The quality’s terrible, but still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvxNcsCh6Bs
I noticed the same thing about those first two pictures. Congratulations on the pick-up. I was about to post the same observation.
Good post, the first pic I’m not sure about, but there’s a good pic of Jackson in Uncle Tom’s Cabin on Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uncle_toms_cabin-1987
and the second pic definitely isn’t Jackson, I believe that’s Bill Cobbs :)
I think the pic on Rotten Tomatoes is Avery Brooks who played Tom.
The actor depicted in Uncle Tom’s Cabin is Albert Hall. Jackson played a different character earlier in the movie. I can’t find a picture of him on the web either, although there is a low-quality VHS rip of the movie on youtube. Jackson gets a nicer suit than this guy, and a nifty hat.
The pic from I’ll Fly Away is of Bill Cobbs. Jackson played his son-in-law in the show.
Even though he’s the first person onscreen– George Harris’ escape from slavery plays under the opening credits, and he appears throughout in an important subplot– Samuel L. Jackson gets relegated to the closing credits crawl, though Albert Hall’s name is featured in the opening credits and they probably have equal screen time. However, VHS releases of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN a few years later put him on the box cover, with a prominent “above the title” credit:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094213/mediaviewer/rm741973760/?ref_=tt_ov_i
Not to nitpick, but I think that the costumes for the Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker, are not the 1930s. Whittaker was court-martialed in 1881.
How were you not able to realize that Albert Hall and Bill Nobbs were not Jackson? He looks nothing like the other two?