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Dark Manhattan

African American Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

Object Details

Directed by

Harry L. Fraser, American, 1889 - 1974

Written by

George Elwood Randol, American, 1895 - 1973

Produced by

George Elwood Randol, American, 1895 - 1973
Ralph Cooper, American, 1908 - 1992

Subject of

Ralph Cooper, American, 1908 - 1992
Cleo Herndon, American, 1908 - 1994
Clarence Brooks, American, 1896 - 1969
Jess Lee Brooks, American, 1894 - 1944
Sam McDaniel, American, 1886 - 1962
Corny Anderson, American, 1897 - 1966
Rubeline Glover, American, 1911 - 1996
James Adamson, American, 1896 - 1956

Description

A 16mm release print of the feature film Dark Manhattan. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film (a) and (b), with variable-density optical sound. A cardboard film shipping box (c) accompanies the film strips. It has black metal corners as well as black straps made of nylon webbing. The film opens with a dedication to actors such as R.B. Harrison, Bert Williams and Florence Mills. Set in Harlem, NY, it follows the development of two men involved in the illegal numbers game, Larry B. Lee (Clarence Brooks), a large-scale mobster and “Curly” Thorpe (Ralph Cooper).

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman

Date

1937

Object number

2015.167.5.1abc

Restrictions & Rights

Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
release prints (motion pictures)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)

Medium

acetate film, cardboard, metal and nylon

Dimensions

Duration (digital file): 1 hr., 9 min., 45 sec.
Physical extent (film) (reel 1): 1050 ft
Physical extent (film) (reel 2): 1300 ft

Place depicted

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place filmed

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American
Actors
Film
Race films
Urban life

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50924722d-5fd0-41a5-8b99-148512dd023a

Record ID

nmaahc_2015.167.5.1abc

Discover More

Colorful film frame with rainbow background and text, "FOCUS Adjust Sound Level"

AVMPI-Media

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