''Dark Manhattan'' is a black and white American film produced in 1937 by a partnership of African Americans

Ralph Cooper Ralph Cooper (January 16, 1908 – August 4, 1992), was an American actor, screenwriter, dancer and choreographer. Cooper is best known as the original master of ceremonies and founder of amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York ...

and

George Randol George Randol (1895–1973) was an actor, screenwriter, director, and producer of films in the United States. In 1938 he was honored as an influential film executive in a newspaper writeup of the "Negro" film industry. Life and career Randol was ...

. Harry Fraser directed the film, which was written by Randol who was also the executive producer. The film was the only one made by Randol-Cooper Productions. The film opens with a dedication to R. B. Harrison,

Bert Williams Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was a Bahamian-born American entertainer, one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. While some sources have ...

, and

Florence Mills Florence Mills (born Florence Winfrey; January 25, 1896 – November 1, 1927), billed as the "Queen of Happiness", was an American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian. Life and career Florence Mills (Florence Winfrey) was born a daughter of for ...

"and all the pioneer Negro actors who by their many sacrifices paved the way for this presentation." Music was by Ellison & Brooks (Ben Ellison and Harvey O. Brooks). Ben Rinaldo was associate producer. The film had its

world premiere A premiere, also spelled première, (from , ) is the debut (first public presentation) of a work, i.e. play, film, dance, musical composition, or even a performer in that work. History Raymond F. Betts attributes the introduction of the film ...

on January 19, 1937, at the Lincoln Theater, in the heart of L.A.'s

Central Avenue Corridor The Central Avenue Corridor is a significant stretch of north–south Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. Roughly bounded by Camelback Road to its north, and McDowell Road to its south, this is one of Phoenix's most vital and heavily trafficke ...

. The film is discussed in the book ''Making a Promised Land''.

Plot

An up-and-coming youngster ruthlessly takes control of the numbers racket from the ailing former boss.

Cast

as Curly Thorpe * Cleo Herndon as Flo Gray * Clarence Brooks as Larry Lee *

Jess Lee Brooks Jess Lee Brooks (June 9, 1894"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4D7-QLS : Fri Feb 23 23:06:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Jess Lee Brooks, 1942."United States, Social ...

as Lieut. Ballot *

Sam McDaniel Samuel Rufus McDaniel (January 28, 1886September 24, 1962)Tanner, Beccy (November 7, 1991)"McDaniel Opened Doors; 'Gone With the Wind' Was Actress' Most Famous Film" ''The Wichita Eagle''. Retrieved January 3, 2021. was an American actor who ap ...

as Jack Johnson *

Corny Anderson Corny may refer to: Places * Corny, Eure, a town in northern France * Corny Lake, Minnesota, United States People * Emmanuel Héré de Corny (1705–1763), French architect * Kuźma Čorny (1900–1944), Byelorussian Soviet poet, writer, dram ...

as Atty. Brown * Rubeline Glover as Miss Hall * James Adamson as Lem

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0028768 1937 films 1937 crime drama films American black-and-white films American crime films Race films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language crime drama films