The Duke Is Tops (1938)

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:

Beautiful Woman | African American | Theatrical Manager | Theatrical Producer | Dancer

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
Marie Bryant	...	Specialty
Swing Band Harlemania Orchestra	...	Speciality
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Everett Brown	...	Sheriff
Arthur Ray	...	Druggist
Mildred Boyd	...	Chorus Girl / Dancer (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen	...	Tonic customer (uncredited)
Lillian Randolph	...	Woman With Sciatica (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Directed by
William L. Nolte		(as William Nolte)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Phil Dunham		writer

Produced by
Leo C. Popkin	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Harvey Brooks
Ben Ellison

Cinematography by
Robert E. Cline		(as Robert Cline)
J. Henry Kruse		(as Henry Kruse)

Film Editing by
Alice Greenwood

Production Management
Ralph Cooper	....	production manager
Walter Buck Jones	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Herman E. Webber	....	assistant director (as Herman Webber)

Art Department
Vin Taylor	....	set designer

Sound Department
Glen Glenn	....	sound (as Glen Glen)

Editorial Department
Arthur A. Brooks	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Lou Frohman	....	musical director
Phil Moore	....	music arranger

Other crew
Lew Crawford	....	ensemble numbers
Halley Harding	....	supervisor
Harry M. Popkin	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Million Dollar Productions

Distributors

• Million Dollar Productions (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (states rights system)
• Norman Distributing Company (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (USA: Southeast)
• Toddy Pictures Co. (1941) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Xenon Entertainment Group (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Ryko Distribution (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1996) (USA) (VHS)

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:

Harlem is Harmony

Lena Is Tops

A great look at the black entertainment industry in 1938. A young Lena Horne shines in her performance as Ethel, a singer who makes her way to the 'big time'. Ralph Cooper plays her boyfriend Duke who is also involved in the entertainment business. As the film progresses, Duke and Erthel are separated and Duke throws his lot in with a travelling medicine show with the esteemed Doctor Dorando, played wonderfully by Laurence Criner. The time with the medicine show is one of this movies treasures as it gives the audience a rare look at how an actual medicine show operated around the South back then. Special musical guests are presented (great guitarist featured by the way...), the spiel is given and the medicine sells.

As one of the stage performers shown on stage early in the movie, look for the fantastic moves of "Rubberneck Holmes". Don't worry, you will recognize him.

A lot of these 'race movies' are a fantastic look at wonderful performers that were never presented in mainstream Hollywood. This movie is worth seeing.