Leo C. Popkin (1914–2011) was a film director and producer in the United States. His brother Harry M. Popkin was the executive producer of

Million Dollar Productions Million Dollar Productions was a movie studio in the United States active from 1937 until 1940. It was established to produce films with African American casts. It was a partnership between Harry M. Popkin, Leo C. Popkin and Ralph Cooper. Histo ...

, a partnership that included

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 ...

. He managed African American movie theaters in Los Angeles. He is known for his gangster films. He and his brother Harry M. Popkin (1906 – October 7, 1991) worked on movies together.

Filmography

*''

The Flaming Crisis ''The Flaming Crisis'' is a 1924 American short silent Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction ...

'' (1924), co-director *''

The Duke Is Tops ''The Duke Is Tops'' is a 1938 American musical film released by Million Dollar Productions and directed by William Nolte. The film was later released in 1944 under the title ''The Bronze Venus''. It features top-billed Lena Horne in her film ...

'' (1938), producer *''

Gang Smashers ''Gang Smashers'', also released as ''Gun Moll'', is an American film released in 1938. It features an African American cast. Leo C. Popkin directed the Million Dollar Productions film from a screenplay by Ralph Cooper. The University of South Car ...

'' (1938), director *''

Reform School A reform school was a Prison, penal institution, generally for teenagers, mainly operating between 1830 and 1900. In the United Kingdom and its colonies, reformatory, reformatories (commonly called reform schools) were set up from 1854 onward f ...

'' (1939), director *''

While Thousands Cheer ''While Thousands Cheer'' is a lost film, lost American film released in 1940. Leo C. Popkin directed. It was the only football-themed film with an African American lead character for decades. It starred Kenny Washington (American football), Kenny ...

'' (1940), director *''

Four Shall Die ''Four Shall Die'' is a 1940 American supernatural crime film directed by William Beaudine. It features Dorothy Dandridge in her first credited film role. Plot Cast * Niel Webster as Pierre Touissant * Mantan Moreland as Beefus, Touissant's ...

'' (1940), co-director *''

My Dear Secretary ''My Dear Secretary'' is a 1948 American comedy film written and directed by Charles Martin (1910-1983) and starring Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn, and Helen Walker. The supporting cast features Rudy Valee, Alan Mowbray and Irene Ryan. ...

'' (1948), producer *'' D.O.A.'' (1949), producer *''

Impact Impact may refer to: * Impact (mechanics), a large force or mechanical shock over a short period of time * Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US Science and technology * Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event * Imp ...

'' (1949), producer *''

Champagne for Caesar ''Champagne for Caesar'' is a 1950 American comedy film about a quiz show contestant directed by Richard Whorf from an original screenplay by Hans Jacoby and Fred Brady. It stars Ronald Colman, Celeste Holm, Vincent Price, Barbara Britton, and ...

'' (1950), co-producer *''

The Well The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, normally shortened to The WELL or The Well, is a virtual community founded in 1985. It is one of the oldest continuously operating virtual communities. By 1993 it had 7,000 members, a staff of 12, and gross annu ...

'' (1951), co-director and co-producer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popkin, Leo C. 1914 births 2011 deaths Film directors from Los Angeles