Videography of Vintage Black Film Collection at Duke University

Items located in the Lilly Library on Duke University's East Campus.

A - I | J - R | S - Z

The Black King

Also known as Harlem hot shot, The black king is one of the earliest films to focus on the "Back to Africa" movement. Made by an independent white-owned company, The black king was billed as a satire on the life of Marcus Garvey. The main character, "Charcoal" Johnson, through connivance, becomes the minister/leader of a Logan, Mississippi congregation from which he attempts to extort money for a "Back to Africa" movement. He proclaims himself King of the United States of Africa.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1932. Directed by Bud Pollard.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3722

Blood of Jesus

The story concerns the accidental shooting of a woman and of the faith in Jesus that brings her back. As she lies dying, her soul goes on a symbolic journey in which it rejects Hell for Zion, Satan for God, at the foot of the cross. When she awakens, recovered, the choir of sisters and brothers from the church come in to sing and celebrate the miracle. An unusual film that offers a glimpse into Southern Baptist life from an African-American perspective.
VHS-Video format (68 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture in 1941. Written and directed by Spencer Williams.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3717

Boarding House Blues

Tenant troubles in a show-business boarding house form the backdrop for this musical review notable for its guest appearances...a riot in rhythm, loaded with laffs, tunes and stars. With Moms Mabley.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture, 1948. Produced by E.M. Glucksman. Directed by Josh Binney.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8630

Boy! What a Girl

Tim Moore in an Amos 'n Andy Kingfish at his funniest as he impersonates a wealthy spinster from Paris. Includes a series of musical performances by black artists including Slam Stewart, Sid Catlett, Deek Watson and a guest appearance by Gene Krupa.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally released as a motion picture, 1946. Directed by Arthur Leonard.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8677

Broken Strings

An all-Black melodrama concerning a classical violinist who injures his fingers. His son tries to earn the needed cash to restore his father's paralyzed hand by following in his father's footsteps as a violinist but to his father's displeasure, he prefers swing to classical music.
VHS-Video format (60 min); Produced by L.C. Borden; Directed by Bernard B. Ray.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8629

Burlesque in Harlem

Pigmeat Markham performs in this rare look at black burlesque.
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1954. Produced and directed by Joseph Tuller and William D. Alexander.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 8442

Chloe, Love is Calling You

A black voodoo priestess comes out of the Louisiana swamps to take revenge on the white plantation owner she believes killed her husband.
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1934. Directed by Marshall Neilan.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8729

Gang War

Classic battle between 2 gangs for control of the juke box machines in Harlem. With Ralph Cooper, Gladys Snyder, Reggie Fenderson.
VHS-Video format (65 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1938. Produced by Clifford Sanforth
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8675

Girl from Chicago

A young secret service agent falls in love with a schoolteacher in a small Mississippi town. Later in New York, he has to save her friend from the numbers racket and is accused of murder. Micheaux produced an earlier, silent version of this crime melodrama in 1926 under the title The spider's web. The film is controversial because Micheaux was accused of selecting his stars on the basis of their "high yellow" skin color.
VHS-Video format (69 min); Originally released as a motion picture in 1932. Produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3718

God's Stepchildren

Oscar Micheaux's film deals with a light-skinned African-American orphan who refuses to acknowledge her race.
VHS-Video format (65 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1937. Produced by Afred N. Sack.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8676

Harlem Rides the Range

In this western, a black cowboy is out to foil dastardly outlaws who steal the deed to a radium mine.
VHS-Video format (58 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1939. Directed by Richard C. Kahn.
Duke Location: Lilly Library A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 9422

Harlem Swings

All-black cast musical comedy shorts.
VHS-Video format (5 cassettes); Originally released as motion pictures in the 1930s-1950s
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8745

Hi De Ho

Big band sensation Cab Calloway (portraying himself) becomes the object of two women's desires: his steady girlfriend Minnie (Jeni Le Gon) and his manager Nettie (Ida James). Jealous of Nettie's maneuvers, Minnie hires a rival clubowner to do away with Cab. Minnie later feels guilty and tries to prevent the killing. Instead she gets dusted by the thugs, leaving the door open for Cab to marry Nettie. This musical review features an all black cast.
VHS-Video format (46 min.); Originally released as a motion picture, 1947; Original story and screenplay by Hal Seeger. Directed by Josh Binney.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8703

A - I | J - R | S - Z

Junction 88

VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1940; Produced by D.J. Mastrony, Directed by George P. Quigley. With Bob Howard, Pigmeat Markham, Wyatt Clark.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8683

Killer Diller

The story of a magician who does disappearing acts between stage performances of a variety program. With Dusty Fletcher, King Cole Trio, the Clark Brothers, Jackie "Moms" Mabley, Andy Kirk and his orchestra.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture in 1948. Directed by Josh Binney; story and screenplay by Hal Seeger.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8684

Lying Lips

In this classic melodrama, a nightclub singer is unjustly convicted and sent to prison for the murder of her aunt.
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture in 1939. Directed by Oscar Micheaux.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3719

Miracle in Harlem

A sweet old woman who runs a candy manufacturing business out of her home is swindled out of her business by a businessman and his som who have connections with the underworld.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1948. Produced by Jack Goldberg. Directed by Jack Kemp.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8679

Mistaken Identity

This mystery musical is set against the background of a big city nightclub.
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1941. Produced and directed by George P. Quigley and Arthur Leonard.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8685

Moon over Harlem

An unusual musical melodrama about a Harlem widow who unwittingly marries a double-talking gangster involved in the numbers racket. Delving into some of the complexities of black life in Harlem, the cast features 20 chorus girls, a choir, and a 60-piece symphony orchestra under the direction of Donald Heywood.
VHS-Video format (67 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture in 1939. Produced and directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3720

Murder in Harlem

A tale of spurned love, murder, and bribery based on the "Stanfield" murder case.
105 minutes in length; Originally produced as a motion picture in 1935. Directed by Oscar Micheaux.
Location: UNC-Chapel Hill NonPrint Collection - CALL NUMBER: 65-N359

Murder with Music

An all-black cast musical drama, in which a reporter goes underground to crack the case of a notorious gangster.
VHS-Video format (57 in.); Originally released as a motion picture, 1945.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 9090

Music and Comedy Masters

VHS-Video format (6 videocassettes, 420 min.); Part of the Black Artists of the Silver Screen Series.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8704

Mystery in Swing

Who fiendishly murdered the womanizing trumpet player by putting snake venom on his mouthpiece? An all-Black mystery musical.
VHS-Video format (66 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1940. Directed and produced by Arthur Dreifuss.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 9093

Ouanga

All-Black horror film about a voodoo priestess who sends out a "death ouanga" to the fiancee of the man she lusts for.
VHS-Video format (57 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1935. With Fredi Washington, Phillip Brandon, Marie Paxton.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 9089

Princesse Tam Tam

A French aristocrat discovers a young girl and falls in love with her. He polishes her in order to present her as an Indian princess.
VHS-Video format (80 min.); Originally released as a French motion picture, 1935. French with English subtitles. Produced and directed by Arys Nissoti and Edmond T. Greville. Starring Josephine Baker.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 1504

A - I | J - R | S - Z

The Scar of Shame

In no film was the racial theme more apparent than in this story about an ill-matched marriage between a black concert pianist and a poor, lower class young black woman. Secretly ashamed of her, the young man keeps his wife hidden from his socially-prominent middle-class mother. Despite the melodrama, it is a strong statement on the issues of class and the color caste system which existed within the African-American community, as well as probing questions of ambition and authority. This was the first film of the Colored Players Film Corp. of Philadelphia.
VHS-Video format (90 min.); Originally a silent motion picture, 1927. Directed by Frank Peregini.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 3721

Sepia Cinderella

In this all black cast musical romance a poor dancer must compete with a rich lady for the man she loves. The man, a famous singer, leaves his beloved to pursue his career and the high life. Eventually he discovers there is more to life than a place in society and returns to his singer/girlfriend.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1947. Produced and directed by Jack Goldberg and Arthur Leonard.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8686

Son of Ingagi

Spencer Williams, Jr. stars in this horror film about a kidnapping and hidden gold.
VHS-Video format (65 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1940. Produced and directed by Richard C. Kahn ; written by Spencer Williams.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8688

Swing [or, Mandy]

Ted Gregory is trying to become the first black producer to mount a show on Broadway but his star singer is getting in the way.
VHS-Video format (70 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1938.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8443

Tall, Tan, and Terrific

Story of people caught up in the quest for fame and fortune in Harlem's nightclub scene. "This plot is just a slight hook for a lot of music and comedy."
VHS-Video format (42 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1946. Directed by Bud Pollard. Starring Mantan Moreland.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8682

Ten Minutes to Live

A mystery musical built around a threatening note which gives the heroine only "ten minutes to live".
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Directed by Oscar Micheaux. Adapted from the three short stories of "Harlem After Midnight."
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 9091

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1903 and 1914)

In these two versions of Harriet Stowe's novel, title screens introduce each scene (in the 1914 version the title screens include some dialogue and background). Both versions show the evils of slavery, attempts of slaves to escape, and melodramatic death scenes (in the 1903 version with the dying uncle Tom seeing future visions of the Civil War and Lincoln emancipating the slaves.)
VHS-Video format (60 min.); Originally produced as silent motion pictures. 1903 version directed by Edwin C. Porter. 1914 version starred Sam Lucas.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 8678

Underworld

A young Black man who recently graduated from a Southern college is persuaded to come to Chicago with a gambler. He travels in Black underworld circles, falls for a vamp and is framed for murder before finding a better life.
VHS-Video format (80 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1937. Adapted from a story by Edna Mae Baker.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8681

Veiled Aristocrats

The story of a lawyer who returns home to find that his light- skinned sister is about to marry a dark-skinned man.
VHS-Video format (50 min.); Originally released as a motion picture in 1932. Written, directed and produced by Oscar Micheaux. Based on a novel by Charles W. Chesnutt.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8687

Where's my Man Tonight? [or, Marching On]

Although every man in his family has gone gladly to war in the past, Rodney Tucker, Jr. has no intentions of volunteering. His girl throws him over because he won't join but still he resists. Finally he is drafted and while in training breaks all of the rules, finds his long lost father and catches jap spies.
VHS-Video format (83 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture in 1943. Directed and written by Spencer Williams.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette -- CALL NUMBER: 8631

Within Our Gates

The earliest surviving feature directed by an African American, Within Our Gates tells the story of a young African American woman who seeks a Northern white patron for a Southern school for Black children. The scenes of lynching and attempted white-on-Black rape may be a response to D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation.
VHS-Video format (79 min.); Originally produced as a motion picture, 1919. Directed by Oscar Micheaux. Reproduction of a single surviving print found in Spain retitled as "La Negra." Spanish with English subtitles.
Duke Location: Lilly A-V Video cassette - CALL NUMBER: 4741