Dark Manhattan (1937)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Harry L. Fraser

Writers:

George Randol (screenplay)
George Randol (story)

Release Date:

12 March 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A low-level gangster determines to let nothing stand in the way of his gaining control of the numbers rackets in Harlem. |

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Numbers Racket | Harlem | Doctor | All Black Cast

Cast

Ralph Cooper	...	James A. 'Curly' Thorpe
Cleo Herndon	...	Flo 'Babe' Gray
Clarence Brooks	...	Larry Lee
Jess Lee Brooks	...	Lt. Luke Ballot
Sam McDaniel	...	Jack Jackson (as Sam McDaniels)
Corny Anderson	...	Attorney Brown
Rubeline Glover	...	Miss Hall (Lee's secretary)
James Adamson	...	Lem

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Grand National Studios - 7250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Randol-Cooper Productions

Trivia:

This was the first all-black film produced in Hollywood.

Soundtrack:

The Sweetest Moment of My Life

Another Great Black Cast Film

Ralph Cooper was The Black Humphrey Bogart of Black Cagney of The Black Cast Films. You can tell he study a lot of those Cagney and Bogart films. In most of his films he played a hard-nose or tough gangster, his movies had stories to tell and it appealed to the Black Audiences, it gave them something to be proud of, since Hollywood gave poor stereotypes of Blacks in movies. Ralph Cooper was among the Black producers to make Black Cast Films and make them good and worth viewing, it gave the Blacks pride. They felt Black people should have movie stars and role modes to look up to. Sadly, a lot of these Blacks actors, actresses, singers, and dancers are forgotten. A lot of them were good though. These were the only films they got to really show their talent, a lot of them didn't get recognition, maybe now they will. These Black Production Films showed Blacks good act, sing, and dance, and do really good acting if given the proper chance. If you can catch this movie, you'll enjoy it. You can see what life was like in Black American in the 1930s. These types of movies were never seen by Black Audiences- mind you, Black Cast Films made outside of Hollywood. These films were made by Black Producers who didn't have much to work on, but did good with what they had. Of course, some learned some film secrets from whites. Funny- whites didn't care much for these films, but now since they films are being released, whites are loving them, and wondering why they never seen or heard of "Black Cast Films". But since these films have been hidden away for many, many years, A lot of them are being found and released, and becoming popular again. Too bad, The Blacks didn't take care and save these films, because a lot of them aren't in the best conditions. But, if you catch this film on Turner Classic Movies, you'll see a good viewing of it. Maybe they'll released it on DVD.