The Duke Is Tops (1938) | Directed by William Nolte

The Duke Is Tops is an all-Black-cast musical drama that tells the story of Duke Davis, a talented but struggling stage producer who helps launch the career of a rising singer, Ethel Andrews. When Ethel finds fame and leaves for bigger opportunities, Duke sacrifices his own career for her success. Later, fate reunites them in a triumphant finale that celebrates loyalty, love, and the power of show business. The film is a lively showcase of African-American music, dance, and performance during the Harlem Renaissance era.

Genre: Musical, Drama, Romance

Director: William Nolte

William Nolte was an American director active in the 1930s and 1940s, primarily known for his work on low-budget productions made for independent studios. Though his career was brief and not widely documented, Nolte contributed to several race films—motion pictures made by Black filmmakers and actors for African-American audiences during segregation. The Duke Is Tops stands as his best-known work due to its historical significance and the breakout performance it gave to Lena Horne.

Star Cast:

Ralph Cooper as Duke Davis

Lena Horne as Ethel Andrews

Laurence Criner as Doc Dorando

Monte Hawley as Mr. Marshall

Edward Thompson as Doc

Harley Woods as Tommy

George Wiltshire as Sam

Nina Mae McKinney (uncredited cameo in some prints)

When released, The Duke Is Tops was well received in African-American theatres and communities, appreciated for its strong musical performances and all-Black cast at a time when Hollywood offered few such roles. The film gained particular attention for introducing audiences to a young Lena Horne, whose poise and voice made a lasting impression. Though production values were modest, audiences celebrated its energy, humor, and optimism. In later years, it became a historically important example of “race cinema,” showing the vibrancy of Black entertainment in pre-war America.

Fun Facts:

The film marked the first screen appearance of Lena Horne, who later became one of Hollywood’s first major African-American stars.

When reissued in 1943 after Horne achieved fame, the film was retitled The Bronze Venus to capitalize on her success.

Ralph Cooper, who wrote and co-produced the film, was also the founder and emcee of the legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

The movie featured original songs and musical numbers by leading African-American artists of the time.

It was produced by Million Dollar Productions, a pioneering company specializing in films for Black audiences.

Despite its low budget, the film’s story of ambition, romance, and redemption helped pave the way for greater visibility of Black performers in American cinema.

Surviving prints of the film have since entered the public domain and are frequently shown in retrospectives of early African-American cinema.

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