Black and Tan Fantasy (1929)

Duke Ellington in a jazz musical short with a tragic plotline.

Director:

Dudley Murphy

Writer:

Dudley Murphy (story)

Stars:

Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Fredi Washington

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Duke Ellington	...	Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington Orchestra	...	Cotton Club Orchestra (as The Cotton Club Orchestra)
Fredi Washington	...	Fredi - Duke's Girlfriend
Hall Johnson Choir	...	Choir
Edgar Connor	...	Piano Mover
Alec Lovejoy	...	Piano Mover

Storyline

Duke Ellington plays hot jazz in a fictional story that finds him down on his luck; he tries in vain to dissuade his friend, dancer Fredi Washington, from working with heart trouble even though it means work for his band. Sure enough, she collapses on stage...

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | harlem manhattan new york city | manhattan new york city | jazz | dancer | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

An advertising poster for this film is pictured on one stamp of a set of five 42¢ USA commemorative postage stamps honoring Vintage Black Cinema, issued 16 July 2008. Other films honored in this set are The Sport of the Gods (1921), Princesse Tam-Tam (1935), Caldonia (1945), and Hallelujah (1929).

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Connections

Referenced in The Public Enemy (1931)

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Soundtracks

Black Beauty
Written by Duke Ellington
Played by Duke Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra (as The Cotton Club Orchestra)

User Reviews

Aside from some unfunny comedy, this is a nice showcase for what was occurring in the Harlem Renaissance.

This film was included in the three DVD set "Saved From the Flames"--a collection of mostly ephemeral movies that have managed to avoid turning to powder, catching fire or melting--something that usually happened with the nitrate film stock used up through the 1950s. Like so many of the very early sound films, the sound quality is fair at best. However, it is your earliest sound film featuring Duke Ellington--and that alone makes it worth seeing and hearing.

Wow....will this film make a few heads turn here in the 21st century! It features some VERY broad acting by some VERY stereotypical black men--men who love to drink and are illiterate. I think this 'comedy' was included to please white audiences who might have seen it, as this was the sort of image of black America they felt comfortable seeing. Then, after the pair leave, Ellington and his friends perform some nice jazz--and inventive camera work. Personally, I think they should have just shown the jazz and dancing of the folks from the famed Cotton Club instead of inserting the needless comedy--especially as it isn't particularly funny.

As a window into the Harlem Renaissance, this is an invaluable film historically speaking. Lovers of early jazz will no doubt enjoy it and you can't help but admire these talented folks.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 1929 (USA)

Filming Locations:

RCA Gramercy Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

19 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1