BLACK AND TAN (1928) Duke Ellington, Fredi Washington & Arthur Whetsel | Short | B&W | Classic Film

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Black and Tan (1929) is a musical short film written and directed by Dudley Murphy. The plot is about a couple in the performing arts; it is set during the contemporary Harlem Renaissance in New York City. It is the first film to feature Duke Ellington and His Orchestra performing as a jazz band, and was also the film debut of actress Fredi Washington. The film is thought to express the emergence of African-American artists in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance.

In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Synopsis:

The film begins with a scene showing Duke Ellington struggling to get bookings for his band. His finances are so tight that he can't make payments on his piano and apartment. Two men arrive to take possession of Duke's piano.

Ellington's wife (played by Fredi Washington) is a dancer. She has achieved acclaim beyond that of the band. She offers the movers ten dollars not to take the piano, but they refuse the payment. When she offers them gin (the film is set during the Prohibition era), they take it and leave, promising to say nothing of this and to claim nobody was at home when they came by.

After landing a dancing job at a club, Washington offers it as a venue to Ellington for his band. She says that she must be featured as the starring act, in order to land the contract offered by the club. Shown as deeply in love with Ellington, the dancer is revealed to have a heart condition that puts her at risk. Although warned to give up dancing, Washington assures the Duke that she is healthy enough to perform. But she dances to her collapse to Ellington’s "Cotton Club Stomp." She later dies in their apartment as the band and a vocal chorus render Duke's new piece, “Black and Tan Fantasy”.

Cast & Crew:

Duke Ellington as Himself
Duke Ellington Orchestra as The Cotton Club Orchestra
Fredi Washington as Fredi, Duke's Girlfriend
Hall Johnson Choir as Choir
Edgar Connor as Piano Mover
Alec Lovejoy as Piano Move

Director: Dudley Murphy
Writer: Dudley Murphy
Starring: Duke Ellington, Fredi Washington, Arthur Whetsel, Barney Bigard, Wellman Braud, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tricky Sam Nanton
Production Company: RCA
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Release Date: December 8, 1929
Running Time: 19 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English