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The Duke Is Tops (1938) More at IMDbPro »

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The Duke Is Tops (1938) -- A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer.

Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   82 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 37% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
William L. Nolte
Writer:
Phil Dunham (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Duke Is Tops on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 September 1938 (USA) more
Genre:
Musical more
Plot:
A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
Nickel and dime musical more (6 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
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)
Louise Franklin ... Chorus Girl / Dancer (uncredited)
Avanelle Harris ... Dancer (uncredited)
Lillian Randolph ... Woman With Sciatica (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
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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
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Bronze Venus (USA) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
73 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #4215)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Lena Horne did not attend the June, 1938 NAACP charity premiere in Pittsburgh because she was not paid for her work. more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Strange Frame: Love & Sax (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Don't Let Our Love Song Turn Into A Blues more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Nickel and dime musical, 8 July 2003
Author: jaykay-10

Black cinema has done far better than this. Even allowing for the constraints imposed by a low budget, there is very little here of entertainment value. The story lacks originality, the acting is stiff and self-conscious, the direction devoid of imagination. A half-dozen "specialty" acts are no better than passable; a very young Lena Horne had yet to develop her star qualities. The chorus girls' costumes looked suspiciously familiar (Warner Brothers?), and the two or three steps they learned for their routines have likewise been seen elsewhere. I hope the price of admission was cut-rate, too. Otherwise, the audience was short-changed.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Musical section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

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