- Directed by
- Murphy, Dudley, American, 1897 - 1968
- Written by
- Murphy, Dudley, American, 1897 - 1968
- Subject of
- Ellington, Duke, American, 1899 - 1974
- Washington, Fredi, American, 1903 - 1994
- Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940
- Lovejoy, Alec, American, 1893 - 1946
- Ellington, Duke Orchestra, American
- Date
- 1929
- Medium
- acetate film, cardboard, metal and nylon
- Dimensions
- Duration: 20 Minutes
- Length (Film): 700 Feet
- Description
- A 16mm release print of the short film Black and Tan Fantasy. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film (a) with variable-area optical sound. A metal film reel (b), a film cannister (c) and a cardboard shipping box (d) also accompany the 16mm film strip. The film reel and cannister are both brown. The shipping box, which is also brown, has black metal corners as well as black straps made of nylon webbing.
- In the opening scene, two men sit and play musical instruments. Duke Ellington, who is one of the musicians, plays the piano with his back turned to the camera while the other man plays a trumpet. The film goes on to tell the story of Ellington’s struggle to get bookings for his band. Ellington’s girlfriend (played by Fredi Washington), attempts to assist him by dancing in his show in order to cement its success, even though she knows her heart condition will ultimately not allow her to survive the performance.
- Place filmed
- Astoria, New York City, Queens County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Movement
- Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement)
- Type
- sound films
- black-and-white films (visual works)
- release prints (motion pictures)
- short subjects
- 16mm (photographic film size)
- Topic
- Actors
- Film
- Jazz (Music)
- Musicians
- Race films
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman
- Object number
- 2015.167.2.1a-d
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown - Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




