Black and Tan (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 | jazz | dancer | cigarette smoking | debut film | 

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Genres:

Drama | Short | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

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

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 and Tan Fantasy
Written by Duke Ellington
Played by Duke Ellington on piano
Reprised at the end

User Reviews

Duke's First

Black And Tan Fantasy (1929)

** (out of 4)

This early Paramount talkie is best remembered today for being the film debut of Duke Ellington but it's also one of the strangest shorts I've seen from this period. Ellington and his partner is in his hotel room practicing for their big gig when a couple movers come into repossess the piano. Ellington's girlfriend Fredi Washington then enters the room of bribes the movers with a bottle of alcohol and then we go to the Cotton Club where Ellington and Washington perform their act. This isn't a good film but it's certainly worth viewing at least once for a few reasons. It's interesting to note that many of the supporting players, especially the movers, are negative stereotypes (dumb and drunk) but Ellington plays it straight. One wonders if he refused to act down for the material or if the studio was just smart enough to treat him with some respect. Another fascinating thing is some of the shots that happen throughout the picture. I liked some of the style like the first dance group who we get to see through their reflection on the floor. Another nice shot has Washington dancing on a glass floor and the camera is underneath and looking up to capture her. There's some more bizarre editing, which doesn't work as well but it's at least something different than we're use to seeing. I must admit that the ending somewhat took me by surprise and it's interesting to see it end the way it did. I certainly won't ruin anything but where this all comes from is somewhat of a mystery.