Directed by
Stone, Andrew L., American, 1902 - 1999
Subject of
Robinson, Bill "Bojangles", American, 1878 - 1949
Horne, Lena, American, 1917 - 2010
Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
Waller, Fats, American, 1904 - 1943
Dunham, Katherine, American, 1909 - 2006
Nicholas Brothers, American
Brown, Ada, American, 1890 - 1950
Wilson, Dooley, American, 1886 - 1953
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1943
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (Reel 1): 36 Minutes
Length (Film): 1275 Feet
Duration (Reel 2): 38 Minutes
Length (Film): 1350 Feet
Caption
Stormy Weather is a 1943 musical starring, and loosly based on the life and career of, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Lena Horne and Cab Calloway also appear in the film, contributing to its popularity amongst music lovers both at the time of its release, as well as today. Stylized to showcase the life and talent of Robinson as Bill 'Corky' Williamson, the plot focuses on his rise to fame and the interpersonal relationships that would prove to remain significant over the course of his career. Stormy Weather was Robinson's last film before his death in 1949.
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
Description
A musical film with the title Stormy Weather. It consists of two (2) reels of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
The film, which has an all-black cast, chronicles the relationship between a dancer, Bill Robinson (as himself), and a singer Selina Rogers (Lena Horne) through a series of flashbacks. It opens with Bill Robinson dancing with a group of children on a verandah, when a young girl presents him with a magazine with a photograph of him on the front cover and a note addressed to him by Noble Sizzle. In response to the children's questions, Bill begins to recall his experience after returning from World War I and meeting Selina. Several performers appear throughout the film including Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, F.E. Miller, Ada Brown, and Katherine Dunham. Close to the end of the film, Selina performs the eponymous song, “Stormy Weather," to music conducted by Cab Calloway and a dance performance by Katherine Dunham and her dance troupe.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
Dance
Film
Hollywood (Film)
Jazz (Music)
Music
Musical films
Popular music
Singers (Musicians)
Tap dancing
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.53.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59ea55846-04b8-42eb-ba74-59cdbc01a296

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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