The Black Network

The Black Network is an American short musical film released in 1936 that was directed by Roy Mack and released through Vitaphone.[1] It is extant.

The Black Network
Film title card
Directed byRoy Mack
Written byA. Dorian Otvos
StarringNina Mae McKinney
The Nicholas Brothers
The Washboard Serenaders
Babe Wallace
Amanda Randolph
CinematographyRay Foster
Edited byBert Frank
Music byCliff Hess
Production
company
Vitaphone
Distributed byVitaphone
Release date
1936
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

Nina Mae McKinney plays the star performer of a radio show who must contend with the sponsor's wife, who wants to take over her spot. The wife, Mezzanine, is more than willing to use her husband's shoe polish company to blackmail the show to do as she wishes.[2] Ultimately Mezzanine's singing is so terrible that listeners complain and she is taken off the show, the status quo restored.[3]

Cast

Production

The Black Network went into production at the Brooklyn Vitaphone studios during December 1935,[6] starting on December 7.[7] Nina Mae McKinney and The Nicholas Brothers were announced as the film's stars; they had previously worked together in the 1932 Roy Mack film Pie Pie Blackbird.[2] The film, which was created as part of the "Broadway Brevity" series,[7] adapted a script written by A. Dorian Otvos and special songs were credited to Cliff Hess. Photography was by Ray Foster and the film was edited by Bert Frank.[8]

Release

The Black Network was released to theaters in 1936, where it was shown as a supplemental film alongside movies such as The Lion's Den and Adventure in Manhattan.[9][10]

Reception

The Film Daily praised The Black Network, citing the actors' performances as a highlight while noting that the story was not original.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. Cripps, Thomas (February 3, 1977). Slow Fade to Black. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-972787-2 – via Google Books.
  2. Bourne, Stephen. "Nina Mae McKinney: The Black Garbo". BearManor Media – via Google Books.
  3. Liebman, Roy (2015-05-20). Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. McFarland. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-4766-0936-2.
  4. "'Black Network' Shows on Screen at the Harlem". The Afro American. April 18, 1936. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  5. "The Black Network". Weird Wild Realm. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  6. "All-Colored Review". The Montgomery Advertiser. Newspapers.com. December 22, 1935.
  7. "All-Colored Review at Vitaphone Studios". Times Union. Newspapers.com. December 7, 1935.
  8. "THE BLACK NETWORK". Library of Congress.
  9. "Theatres". The Bristol News. Newspapers.com. July 11, 1936.
  10. "Hamrick (now playing)". The Gaffney Ledger. October 27, 1936.
  11. Bourne, Stephen. Nina Mae McKinney: The Black Garbo. BearManor Media.
  12. "The Black Network (review)". Film Daily. April 1, 1936.
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