James Earl Jones as Jack Jefferson [Jack Johnson] in The Great White Hope (Original photograph, inscribed) de Hinton, Arnold (photographer); James Earl Jones (subject) - 1968

N.p.: N.p., 1968. Vintage black-and-white photograph of James Earl Jones as Jack Jefferson in the 1968 Howard Sackler play "The Great White Hope." INSCRIBED by Jones to fellow actor Hilda Haynes, making reference to her role in the production as the mother to his character. From the estate of Hilda Haynes. Based on the life of heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, Sackler's play ran for 546 performances on Broadway, on its way to Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actor (Jones, in a breakthrough role), and Best Actress (Jane Alexander), and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Basis for the 1970 Martin Ritt film, which saw Jones and Alexander reprising their roles and earning Academy Award nominations for their performances. Hilda Haynes was a pioneering African-American actress with extensive credits in theatre, television, and film, who over the course of a 50 year career worked with some of the leading figures of the era, including James Earl Jones, Sidney Poitier, Langston Hughes, and Alice Childress. 17 x 21 inches, framed. Near Fine, with some light creasing, unexamined out of frame. With the photographer's name matted out on the verso of the frame.