Duke Ellington in a jazz musical short with a tragic plotline.Duke Ellington in a jazz musical short with a tragic plotline.Duke Ellington in a jazz musical short with a tragic plotline.
- Awards
- 1 win
Photos
Duke Ellington Orchestra
- Cotton Club Orchestra
- (as The Cotton Club Orchestra)
Barney Bigard
- Band Member - Clarinet Player
- (uncredited)
Wellman Braud
- Band Member - Bass Player
- (uncredited)
Hall Johnson
- Choir Leader
- (uncredited)
Arthur Whetsol
- Trumpet Player
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAn 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).
- Quotes
Fredi - Duke's Girlfriend: Duke, I've got some wonderful news! I've just landed a job in a nightclub. And I'm going to dance and you're going to play. Isn't that wonderful?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Black Shadows on the Silver Screen (1975)
Featured review
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.
** (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.
helpful•65
- Michael_Elliott
- May 1, 2011
Details
- Runtime19 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.20 : 1
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