The Duke Is Tops (1938)

Director:

William L. Nolte
(more)

Writers:

Phil Dunham (writer) and
Ralph Cooper (writer)

Release Date:

1 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer.

Plot Keywords:

Medicine Show | Theatrical Producer | Singer | Fraud | Theatrical Manager

Cast

Ralph Cooper	...	Duke Davis
Lena Horne	...	Ethel Andrews
Laurence Criner	...	Doc Dorando (as Lawrence Criner)
Monte Hawley	...	George Marshall
Willie Covan	...	Specialty Tap Dancer
Neva Peoples	...	Ella
Vernon McCalla	...	Mason (as Vernon McCallum)
Edward Thompson	...	Ferdie Fenton
Johnny Taylor	...	Dippy, 'Prince Alakazoo'
Ray Martin	...	Joe
Guernsey Morrow	...	Ed. Lake (as Guersney Morrow)
Charles Hawkins	...	Sam, the Stage Manager (as Charlie Hawkins)
Basin Street Boys	...	Speciality
Rubberneck Holmes	...	Specialty (as Rubber Neck Holmes)
Cats and the Fiddle	...	Speciality
Marie Bryant	...	Specialty
Swing Band Harlemania Orchestra	...	Speciality
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Everett Brown	...	Sheriff
Arthur Ray	...	Druggist
Mildred Boyd	...	Chorus Girl / Dancer (uncredited)
Dorothea Durham	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen	...	Tonic Customer (uncredited)
Louise Franklin	...	Chorus Girl / Dancer (uncredited)
Avanelle Harris	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lillian Randolph	...	Woman with Sciatica (uncredited)

Directed by
William L. Nolte		(as William Nolte)
Ralph Cooper		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Phil Dunham		(writer)
Ralph Cooper		writer

Produced by
Leo C. Popkin	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Harvey Brooks
Ben Ellison

Cinematography by
Robert E. Cline		(photography) (as Robert Cline)
J. Henry Kruse		(photography) (as Henry Kruse)

Film Editing by
Alice Greenwood

Production Management
Ralph Cooper	....	production manager
Walter Buck Jones	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Herman E. Webber	....	assistant director (as Herman Webber)

Art Department
Vin Taylor	....	set designer

Sound Department
Glen Glenn	....	recording engineer (as Glen Glen)

Editorial Department
Arthur A. Brooks	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Lou Frohman	....	musical director
Phil Moore	....	music arranger

Other crew
Lew Crawford	....	ensemble numbers
Halley Harding	....	supervisor
Harry M. Popkin	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Million Dollar Productions

Distributors

• Million Dollar Productions (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (states rights system)
• Norman Distributing Company (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (USA: Southeast)
• Toddy Pictures Co. (1941) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Ryko Distribution (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Whirlwind Media (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Xenon Entertainment Group (1994) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"The Bronze Venus" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4215) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Million Dollar Productions

Trivia:

Shot in ten days.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Strange Frame: Love & Sax (2012)

Soundtrack:

Killing Jive

Lena's First, but Ralph Cooper Steals the Movie

This is worth watching simply because it is Lena Horne's first movie and she only appeared in six or seven. Although, the plot centers around her character, Ethel Waters, trying to make it as a singer, she is only in the movie for about 20 minutes. The main story is about her manager, Duke Davis (Ralph Cooper), who sacrifices himself to make sure that she becomes a success.

Ralph Cooper was the creator and host of amateur night at the Apollo starting in 1937 for over 25 years. This multi-talented man also starred in and wrote several movies. This is the first one I've seen, and it is a fun ride.

Cooper is handsome smart and funny, "the Dark Gable" was a good nickname for him. His best scenes come with Lawrence Criner who plays a salesman of a universal tonic that cures all ills. Criner was one of the founders of black theater in America and stared in a dozen movies from 1926-1948. He was also in some Hollywood films like "The King of the Zombies," and "The Jackie Robinson Story." Cooper and Criner make a great comedy team. They also appear together in "Gang War" and "Gangsters on the Loose" Black cinema in the 30's and 40's was a true alternative to Hollywood films which almost invariably portrayed blacks in submissive, lowly secondary roles. Because of the law budgets, shooting was usually done in four or five days with restricted sets. The technical qualities varied, but in the best films, as here, they rivaled some Hollywood "B" movies.