Directed by
Popkin, Leo C., Canadian, 1914 - 2011
Produced by
Popkin, Harry M., American, 1906 - 1991
Million Dollar Productions, American, 1937 - 1940
Subject of
Cooper, Ralph, American, 1908 - 1992
Hawley, Monte, American, 1901 - 1950
Snyder, Gladys, American, 1920 - 1998
Criner, John L., American, 1898 - 1965
Brooks, Jess Lee, American, 1894 - 1944
Sheffield, Maceo Bruce, American, 1897 - 1959
Hawkins, Charles, American
Fenderson, Reginald, American, 1911 - 1986
Thomas, Johnny
Johnson, Bobby, American, 1910 - 1982
Roberts, Henry
Garrison, Harold, American, 1901 - 1974
Date
1940
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 60 Minutes
Length (Film Reel 1): 1100 Feet
Length (Film Reel 2): 1250 Feet
Description
A 16mm release print of the feature film Gang War. It consists of two reels of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film strips with variable-area optical sound. The film is about two Harlem gangs fighting for control of a jukebox “racket.” It opens with a newspaper headline from the Daily Times about a recent surge in crime. This is followed by a scene in a diner in which a gang member, Bob “Killer” Meade (Ralph Cooper), accuses members of a rival gang of conducting business in the wrong territory and a fight erupts between the two gangs. Some of the men flee the diner and run into a waiting car as another man shoots at them through a window. A chase between the men in the car and police officers ensues. The film ends with Bob “Killer” Meade resisting arrest by assaulting a police officer, which leads to a shootout between Killer and other law enforcement personnel.
Place depicted
Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
release prints (motion pictures)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
Business
Film
Nightlife
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
2015.167.8.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ea1a6156-d507-475c-b5ee-3450d8b6f123

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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