The Duke Is Tops (1938)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

William L. Nolte

Writer:

Phil Dunham (writer)

Release Date:

1 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer.

Plot Keywords:

Medicine Show | Theatrical Producer | Singer | Fraud | Theatrical Backer

Cast

Ralph Cooper	...	Duke Davis
Lena Horne	...	Ethel Andrews
Laurence Criner	...	Doc Dorando (as Lawrence Criner)
Monte Hawley	...	George Marshall
Willie Covan	...	Specialty Tap Dancer
Neva Peoples	...	Ella
Vernon McCalla	...	Mason (as Vernon McCallum)
Edward Thompson	...	Ferdie Fenton
Johnny Taylor	...	Dippy, 'Prince Alakazoo'
Ray Martin	...	Joe
Guernsey Morrow	...	Ed. Lake (as Guersney Morrow)
Charles Hawkins	...	Sam, the Stage Manager (as Charlie Hawkins)
Basin Street Boys	...	Speciality
Rubberneck Holmes	...	Specialty (as Rubber Neck Holmes)
Cats and the Fiddle	...	Speciality

Also Known As:

The Bronze Venus (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4215)

Company:

Million Dollar Productions

Trivia:

Lena Horne did not attend the June, 1938 NAACP charity premiere in Pittsburgh because she was not paid for her work.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Strange Frame: Love & Sax (2009)

Soundtrack:

Don't Let Our Love Song Turn Into A Blues

an unusual film starring an all black cast

An unusual film for an audience outside the USA. Lena Horne looks fabulous and so does Ralph Cooper. There is not added background of tap steps as in other musicals so you do not hear the beat of the taps which is great realism. Music is muted to hear what dancing steps there are. Acting is a little stilted and the casts speak slowly so that you think the movie is older than it is. Costumes are daring for the time in the dance routines at the end. Often feels like you are part of an audience at a stage show. What furniture you see is very modern which adds to the movies feeling of other worldliness. A must for all film buffs.