Dark Manhattan
Dark Manhattan is a black and white American film produced in 1937 by a partnership of African Americans Ralph Cooper and George Randol.[1] Harry Fraser directed the film, which was written by Randol who was also the executive producer. The film was the only one made by Randol-Cooper Productions.
| Dark Manhattan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Harry Fraser |
| Written by | George Randol |
| Produced by | Ralph Cooper George Randol |
| Starring | Ralph Cooper |
| Cinematography | Arthur Reed |
| Edited by | Arthur A. Brooks |
| Music by | Ben Ellison Harvey O. Brooks |
Production company | Randol-Cooper Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film opens with a dedication to R. B. Harrison, Bert Williams, and Florence Mills "and all the pioneer Negro actors who by their many sacrifces paved the way for this presentation."
Music was by Ellison & Brooks (Ben Ellison and Harvey O. Brooks). Ben Rinaldo was associate producer.
The film stars Cooper, and focuses on an up-and-coming youngster ruthlessly taking control of the numbers racket from the ailing former boss.[2]
The film is discussed in the book Making a Promised Land.[3]
Cast
- Ralph Cooper as Curly Thorpe
- Cleo Herndon as Flo Gray
- Clarence Brooks as Larry Lee
- Jess Lee Brooks as Lieut. Ballot
- Sam McDaniel as Jack Johnson
- Corny Anderson as Atty. Brown
- Rubeline Glover as Miss Hall
- James Adamson as Lem
References
- Balio, Tino (September 6, 1995). Grand Design: Hollywood as a Modern Business Enterprise, 1930-1939. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520203341 – via Google Books.
- "Dark Manhattan". National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- Massood, Paula J. (September 6, 2013). "Making a Promised Land: Harlem in Twentieth-Century Photography and Film". Rutgers University Press – via Project MUSE.