Sepia Cinderella: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A 16mm release print of the feature film Sepia Cinderella. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with variable-area optical sound.

The first scene opens with a band performing for Barbara (Sheila Guyse), the film’s protagonist, and her adoptive mother Mama Keyes (Hilda Offley). At the end of the performance, the band exits the room while Mama Keyes and Barbara remain behind, engaging in a conversation about their relationship and the death of Barbara’s parents. Later in the film, Barbara inspires her love interest, Bob (Billy Daniels), to write a song. After finding success in this latest song, Bob falls under the sway of a club owner named Vivian (Tondaleyo).

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1947
• Directed by: Arthur H. Leonard, American, 1904 - 1956
• Written by: Vincent Andrew Valentini, American, 1895 - 1948
• Edited by: Jack Kemp
• Subject of: Sheila Guyse, American, 1925 - 2013
• Subject of: Billy Daniels, American, 1915 - 1988
• Subject of: Tondaleyo, American, 1912 - 1998
• Subject of: Hilda Offley, American, 1894 - 1968
• Subject of: Ruble Blakey, American, 1911 - 1992
• 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
• Dimensions: Duration: 70 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film Reel 1): 1130 Feet
• Dimensions: Length (Film Reel 2): 1250 Feet
• Place filmed: New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Race films
• Object number: 2015.167.17.1ab
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.