HARLEM IS HEAVEN (1932) Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake & Anise Boyer | Crime, Drama, Musical | B&W

Harlem Is Heaven is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama and musical film directed by Irwin Franklyn and featuring a virtually all African-American cast.[4] Bill "Bojangles" Robinson stars in his first leading role on screen, along with Putney Dandridge, John Mason, and some of the top entertainers of the period from Harlem's famous Cotton Club, including James Baskett, Anise Boyer, Henri Wessell, and Alma Smith.[1] Eubie Blake and his orchestra perform most of the background music and instrumentals during the film's onstage song and dance numbers.Show more

SYNOPSIS
The director and star of a Harlem theater troupe puts his feelings aside to help unite two lovers.

One evening on a sidewalk in Harlem, Jean Stratton (Anise Boyer)—a young unemployed actress and dancer from West Virginia—stands next to "The Tree of Hope", openly praying and imploring the legendary tree to help find her work. When she stops one passing men to ask how long she needs to stand under the tree to get a job, a nearby police officer thinks she is a soliciting prostitute, so he arrests her. A group of spectators gather around the officer and Jean, including "Money" Johnson (James Baskett), who gets the officer to release her. Money is a local theater owner widely known in Harlem. He is also a rackateer who specializes in "policy games" or gambling, as well as circulating phony investment schemes around New York, Philadelphia, and in other cities. After the officer and others leave, Money offers Jean a job at his Acme Theatre, gives her some cash as an advance on her salary, and tells her to report to his office the following day.

Anise Boyer as Jean Stratton, the film's leading female character
After meeting with Jean at his theater the next day, Money introduces her to Bill (Bill Robinson), Acme's star performer and director of its dance and other stage productions. At rehearsal Jean also meets another performer, a handsome young actor and dancer named "Chummy" Walker (Henri Wessell). Both Chummy and Bill are immediately smitten with Jean even though she initially refers to them as her protective "big brothers". Money, however, has his own plans to seduce her. Following another rehearsal, Money warns Chummy that "Miss Stratton" is more than his protégée, declaring "she's my personal and private property". He then orders Chummy to invite Jean to a party in his office after that evening's show. The party will actually be an intimate dinner with just Money. Chummy warns Jean of Money's intentions, but she ignores him and goes to the office, where the theater boss forces himself on her. As she struggles to leave, Bill enters the office, a fight ensues, and Bill knocks out Money. The next day Bill and Jean learn they have been fired.

While visiting the police station to see Chummy, Jean learns of Money's role in devising the fraud, so she visits Greta (Alma Smith), one of Money's girlfriends who knows details about the scheme. After a brutal fight with Greta, Jean forces her to provide the district attorney with information proving Money's guilt, which results in Chummy's release from jail. Spider then learns from newspaper reports that it was Money, not Chummy, who had concocted the phony investment. Now seeking his own revenge for the loss of his money, Spider confronts Money in his office. After Money tries to shoot him, Spider uses a razor to kill the crime boss as he pleads for mercy. The story then ends in Bill's apartment, where Bill, his mother visiting from Richmond, Jean, and Chummy have gathered. Earlier, Bill had realized that Jean and Chummy had fallen in love, so he urges them to get married before he cheerfully leaves the apartment to see another friend.

CAST & CREW
Bill Robinson as Himself
John Mason as "Spider" Mason
Putney Dandridge as Stage Manager
Jimmy Baskette as Remus A. "Money" Johnson
Anise Boyer as Jean Stratton
Henri Wessell as "Chummy" Walker
Alma Smith as Greta Rae
Bob Sawyer as "Knobs" Moran
Eubie Blake as Himself (and his orchestra)

Directed by Irwin R. Franklyn
Written by Irwin R. Franklyn (screenplay)
Produced by Irving Yates, Tishman & O'Neal, Jack Goldberg
Cinematography Charles J. Levine
Edited by Elmer J. McGovern
Music by, Shelton Brooks, Edgar Dorwell, Porter Grainer, Joe Jordan, Eubie Blake and His Orchestra
Production companies Lincoln Pictures, Inc., New York, N.Y.
Distributed by Lincoln Pictures, Inc.; Sack Amusement Enterprises, Dallas, Texas
Release date May 27, 1932
Running time 69 minutes (original cut)
Country United States
Language English
Budget Under $50,000[3]

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