Dr Alexander Sergeant discusses Jamaican film history on Smile Jamaica TV

Dr Alexander Sergeant recently appeared on Smile Jamaica to talk about the story and legacy of A Daughter of the Gods, the world’s first million-dollar movie shot on the island and how this helped to put Jamaica on the global filmmaking map. He joined President of The Jamaican Historical Society, Curtis Wallace.

Sergeant’s visit was part of a research trip for his upcoming book about the film’s director, Herbert Brenon. Born in Dublin and raised in London, Brenon was a U.S.-based film director, actor and screenwriter during the era of silent films through 1940. Sergeant argues that Brenon is one of silent Hollywood’s most important and forgotten figures; his films pioneered new production methods and served as star-making vehicles for several female producers and actors. A Daughter of the Gods, produced by William Fox of Fox Film Corporation, was a fantasy film that, despite global success, garnered controversy for its unprecedented displays of nudity. Through his research and outreach, Sergeant hopes to reignite interest in this hidden figure among cinema’s aficionados and fans.

Watch a clip of the appearance here:

Film Historian, Dr. Alexander Sergeant and President of The Jamaican Historical Society, Curtis Wallace, stepped back in time to talk about the story and legacy of ‘A Daughter of the Gods’… pic.twitter.com/cte4TOn5Ht

— Smile Jamaica (@Smilejamtvj) June 20, 2026

During the visit, Dr Sergeant also spoke to the Jamaican Historical Society, a non-profit, membership-based historical association originally established in 1943, about his research. Sergeant delivered his lecture on A Daughter of the Gods at St Joseph’s Teachers’ College in St Andrew.

Learn more about the Jamaican Historical Society here.