Directed by
Kemp, Jack
Written by
Valentini, Vincent Andrew, American, 1895 - 1948
Subject of
Guyse, Sheila, American, 1925 - 2013
Offley, Hilda, American, 1894 - 1968
Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014
Lewis, Sybil, American, 1919 - 1988
Freeman, Kenneth, American, 1917 - 1991
Criner, John L., American, 1898 - 1965
Hawley, Monte, American, 1901 - 1950
Hernández, Juano, 1896 - 1970
Gines, Henry
Leo, Don De, Italian, 1904 - 1979
Thompson, Creighton, American, 1889 - 1969
Blakey, Ruble, American, 1911 - 1992
Chester, Alfred George, American, 1900 - 1978
Fetchit, Stepin, American, 1902 - 1985
Carter, Jack, American, 1902 - 1967
Williams, Milton, American, 1907 - 1995
Date
1948
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 69 Minutes
Length (Film Reel 1): 1350 Feet
Length (Film Reel 2): 1200 Feet
Caption
When a real estate tycoon is found dead, his latest real estate casualty is suspected of the crime.
Description
A 16mm release print of the feature film Miracle in Harlem. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with variable-area optical sound.
The film is about a woman, Julie Weston (Sheila Guyse), who is suspected of killing a real estate tycoon. It opens with a church service in which a choir sings “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” After the service, Julie’s aunt, Aunt Hattie (Hilda Offley), walks to her candy kitchen where she is greeted by Julie and Julie’s paramour, Bert (William Greaves). Bert and Julie attempt to convince Aunt Hattie to expand and modernize her candy kitchen. However, Aunt Hattie expresses her hesitation toward their proposal. At one point in the film, a man informs Julie that she no longer owns the candy shop or the recipes to which Julie responds that, Mr. Marshall “will never get away with this. The film ends with detectives solving the murder.
Place depicted
Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Media Arts-Film and Video
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Business
Families
Film
Race films
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman
Object number
2015.167.15.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51ab239c7-7392-4d2f-8ce6-9ec98c9c4c49

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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