Dark Manhattan: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A 16mm release print of the feature film Dark Manhattan. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film (a) and (b), with variable-density optical sound. A cardboard film shipping box (c) accompanies the film strips. It has black metal corners as well as black straps made of nylon webbing. The film opens with a dedication to actors such as R.B. Harrison, Bert Williams and Florence Mills. Set in Harlem, NY, it follows the development of two men involved in the illegal numbers game, Larry B. Lee (Clarence Brooks), a large-scale mobster and “Curly” Thorpe (Ralph Cooper).

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1937
• Directed by: Harry L. Fraser, American, 1889 - 1974
• Written by: George Elwood Randol, American, 1895 - 1973
• Produced by: George Elwood Randol, American, 1895 - 1973
• Produced by: Ralph Cooper, American, 1908 - 1992
• Subject of: Ralph Cooper, American, 1908 - 1992
• Subject of: Cleo Herndon, American, 1908 - 1994
• Subject of: Clarence Brooks, American, 1896 - 1969
• Subject of: Jess Lee Brooks, American, 1894 - 1944
• Type: sound films
• Type: black-and-white films (visual works)
• Type: release prints (motion pictures)
• Type: feature films
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film, cardboard, metal and nylon
• Dimensions: Duration (digital file): 1 hr., 9 min., 45 sec.
• Dimensions: Physical extent (film) (reel 1): 1050 ft
• Dimensions: Physical extent (film) (reel 2): 1300 ft
• Place depicted: Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Race films
• Topic: Urban life
• Object number: 2015.167.5.1abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public Domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.