Hallelujah! (1929)

In a juke joint, sharecropper Zeke falls for a beautiful dancer, Chick, but she's only setting him up for a rigged craps game. He loses $100, the money he got for the sale of his family's ... See full summary »

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Wanda Tuchock (scenario), Richard Schayer (treatment),

Stars:

Daniel L. Haynes, Nina Mae McKinney, William Fountaine

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Daniel L. Haynes	...	Zeke
Nina Mae McKinney	...	Chick
William Fountaine	...	Hot Shot
Harry Gray	...	Parson
Fanny Belle DeKnight	...	Mammy
Everett McGarrity	...	Spunk
Victoria Spivey	...	Missy Rose
Milton Dickerson	...	Johnson Kid
Robert Couch	...	Johnson Kid
Walter Tait	...	Johnson Kid
Dixie Jubilee Singers

Storyline

In a juke joint, sharecropper Zeke falls for a beautiful dancer, Chick, but she's only setting him up for a rigged craps game. He loses $100, the money he got for the sale of his family's entire cotton crop. His brother Spunk is mortally wounded in the shoot-out which follows. Zeke goes away but returns as Brother Zekiel the preacher. His forceful preaching draws the faithful in large numbers. Even Chick wants to be saved. Zekiel has asked the pretty Missy Rose to marry him, but Chick can still cast a spell over the preacher...

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Plot Keywords:

preacher | brother | cotton | african american | chase | 

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Taglines:

HEAR AND SEE 100 JUBILEE SINGERS! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Musical | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aleluya

Filming Locations:

Arkansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min 100 min (Turner library print) (re-release) (re-edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Presently available version, as broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, is the re-edited 100 minute 1939 re-release, with redesigned opening and closing credits.

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Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: Amerikai filmtípusok - A zenés film (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Goin' Home"
(uncredited)
Music based on "Symphony No. 9, Largo" by Antonín Dvorák
Adapted by William Arms Fisher
Lyrics by William Arms Fisher
Played on guitar and sung by Daniel L. Haynes

User Reviews

Historical Masterpiece!

I saw "Hallelujah" on cable television one night, and I had to buy the video because it really touched me. I learned that it was the first all-black sound movie, and I must say it was a classic. This was such an achievement for 1929, and I must say I immediately became a fan of the beautiful Nina Mae McKinney who played the young temptress Chick in the movie. This movie was enlightening because the characters, action and everything that took place reminded me so much of today's time, especially the character Chick as a temptress, the African-American church with its unique praise and the importance of dance and song. I loved the moral of the story, it was one of redemption and forgiveness. This is a powerful film and it will always remain a historical classic. "Hallelujah" gave the young Nina Mae McKinney her start, and she later inspired other African-American beauties like Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horn to let their stars shines. Truly she was before her time, but she helped blaze the trail for others to follow, and gave so much light from her star in this film. This movie is unforgettable and truly a classic!