The Ballad of John Henry
THE BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY is an ambitious 50-minute documentary film analyzing how an ex-slave became one of America’s greatest tall tale heroes.
The heroic legacy of John Henry speaks to the needs of most Americans. His fame today rests on a single moment. The competition against the steam drill may have sealed his fate, but he died to preserve the dignity of the common man. Dozens of men by the same name have been attributed as the real-life tall tale hero. Only one person, a convict, is the most obvious choice according to the historical evidence.
Based on Scott Reynolds Nelson’s book, Steel Drivin’ Man, this story presents a new perspective on a famous tall tale often taught in classrooms around the country. The film sheds new light on an unjust legal system developed after the Civil War replacing slavery with a new labor-based economy, the convict lease program.
Matthew Rice is a documentary filmmaker based in St. Louis, MO. He currently works as a videographer for the Washington University School of Medicine developing educational content for the doctors of tomorrow. Matthew began his filmmaking career at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television creating his first short documentary film, The Yodel Within. This documentary was selected by five film festivals winning several awards including “Audience Favorite” and “Best Credits Sequence.” This project inspired Matthew to dedicate himself completely to learning the craft of documentary story telling. He has collaborated with experts at the top of their field to develop video content that both engages and educates audiences.
The Ballad of John Henry was conceived over five years ago while I was working as an intern on Ken Burns’s documentary series, The Vietnam War. Scott Nelson’s book, Steel Drivin’ Man, piqued my interest in American history like no other book had before. How could an illiterate ex-slave, a man whom everyone expected to be forgotten, survive all these years until ultimately becoming one of America’s great legendary heroes? Scott Nelson’s use of modern day research technology, his tenacity to uncover the truth, and willingness to question long held beliefs made history come alive in a way I had not previously considered. This film was born from a passion to retell American history in a way that excites and inspires a new generation of historians.