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Dark Manhattan
Dark Manhattan
Directed by	Harry Fraser
Written by	George Randol
Produced by	Ralph Cooper; George Randol
Starring	Ralph Cooper
Cinematography	Arthur Reed
Edited by	Arthur A. Brooks
Music by	Ben Ellison; Harvey O. Brooks
Production; company	Randol-Cooper Productions
Release date	January 19, 1937;
Running time	69 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film Dark Manhattan

Dark Manhattan is a black and white American film produced in 1937 by a partnership of African Americans Ralph Cooper and George Randol.^[1] 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, and Florence Mills "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.^[2]

The film had its world premiere on January 19, 1937, at the Lincoln Theater, in the heart of L.A.'s Central Avenue Corridor.^[3]

The film is discussed in the book Making a Promised Land.^[2]

Plot

An up-and-coming youngster ruthlessly takes control of the numbers racket from the ailing former boss.^[4]

Cast

Ralph Cooper as Curly Thorpe
Cleo Herndon as Flo Gray
Clarence Brooks as Larry Lee
Jess Lee Brooks as Lieut. Ballot
Sam McDaniel as Jack Johnson
Corny Anderson as Atty. Brown
Rubeline Glover as Miss Hall
James Adamson as Lem

References

^ Balio, Tino (September 6, 1995). Grand Design: Hollywood as a Modern Business Enterprise, 1930-1939. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520203341 – via Google Books.
^ ^a ^b Massood, Paula J. (September 6, 2013). "Making a Promised Land: Harlem in Twentieth-Century Photography and Film". Rutgers University Press – via Project MUSE.
^ Levette, Harry (January 16, 1937). "PLAN WORLD PREMIERE FOR "DARK MANHATTAN": RANDOL-COOPER ALL-NEGRO FILM TO SHOW JAN. 19 LOUISE BEAVERS VISITS NEW PICTURE STUDIO". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. A6. ProQuest 202039235. But now comes the first real world premiere of an all-Negro cast film made and released by Negro producers, when on January 19, 'Dark Manhattan,' authored and produced at the new Grand International Studio by Geo. Randol and Ralph Cooper, will be flashed on the screen of the Lincoln Theatre. In true Hollywood style brilliant floodlights will turn night into day in the heart of the colored district on Central Avenue, powerful searchlights will sweep the skies pointing the way to what is expected to be as elaborate a social affair as the famous ones staged at the Hollywood theatres.
^ "Dark Manhattan". National Museum of African American History and Culture.