The Duke is Tops
Encyclopedia
The Duke Is Tops is a 1938 American musical film released by Million Dollar Productions and directed by William Nolte. The film was later released in 1943 under the title The Bronze Venus, with Lena Horne given top billing.
The film was one of a number of low-budgeted musicals (or "race movie
s") made in the 1930s and 1940s for the African-American market. The casts and production teams of these films were almost all black, and the music reflected current tastes in jazz
and rhythm and blues
.
The Duke Is Tops features the film debut of singer Lena Horne
, who was still 20 at the time and living as a housewife with her first husband in Pittsburgh, PA. She had yet to develop the smooth, classy style she would distinguish herself with in her later films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
. Notably, Horne has a major acting role in this film, something that save for 1943's Cabin in the Sky
and a few later films, she would rarely enjoy.
The original top billed star Ralph Cooper
was host of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre
for 50 years. He also served as the movie's production manager.
want to propel Ethel into the big leagues, but Ethel, out of loyalty and love for Duke, refuses to leave his small-time show. Duke, in a selfless act, orchestrates a deception to force Ethel to leave his show in order to better her career.
However, the loss of the Bronze Venus causes Duke's own career to collapse and he soon finds himself working on a travelling medicine show
where he goes from town-to-town, introducing a series of specialty musical acts and helping to sell Doc Dorando's all-purpose elixir
. But when he hears that Ethel's New York gig is a flop, Duke goes to New York where he is reunited with her. Soon after, Duke combines his stage show, the medicine show and Ethel's singing into a top nightclub act.
and the Cats & the Fiddle. Lena Horne as Ethel sings the Harvey Brooks & Ben Ellison composition "I Know You Remember," with lyrics apropos of the film, "You & I have made a small beginning..." Lena also sings "Don't Let Our Love Song Turn Me Blue" with a lyric that foreshadows one of her future great roles: "True love will guide us through stormy weather." And she reprises "I Know You Remember." The Cats & the Fiddle sing "Killin' Jive." This is a great performance, four guys harmonizing on a very jumpin' good song.
in America, and as such is available in multiple editions.http://www.profilms.com/publicdomain/index.htm
The film was one of a number of low-budgeted musicals (or "race movie
Race movie
The race movie or race film was a film genre which existed in the United States between about 1915 and 1950. It consisted of films produced for an all-black audience, featuring black casts....
s") made in the 1930s and 1940s for the African-American market. The casts and production teams of these films were almost all black, and the music reflected current tastes in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
.
The Duke Is Tops features the film debut of singer Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
, who was still 20 at the time and living as a housewife with her first husband in Pittsburgh, PA. She had yet to develop the smooth, classy style she would distinguish herself with in her later films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. Notably, Horne has a major acting role in this film, something that save for 1943's Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John La Touche, and a musical book by Lynn Root. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 25, 1940. It closed on March 8, 1941 after a total of 156 performances...
and a few later films, she would rarely enjoy.
The original top billed star Ralph Cooper
Ralph Cooper
Ralph Cooper may refer to:*Ralph Cooper , originator and master of ceremonies of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem* Ralph Cooper of KTRK-TV and KCOH...
was host of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
for 50 years. He also served as the movie's production manager.
Plot
Duke Davis, is a stage show promoter in love with Ethel Andrews, a popular singer in his company dubbed "the Bronze Venus". Duke finds out that big-time promoters from New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
want to propel Ethel into the big leagues, but Ethel, out of loyalty and love for Duke, refuses to leave his small-time show. Duke, in a selfless act, orchestrates a deception to force Ethel to leave his show in order to better her career.
However, the loss of the Bronze Venus causes Duke's own career to collapse and he soon finds himself working on a travelling medicine show
Medicine show
Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled "miracle cure" medications and other products between various entertainment acts. Their precise origins unknown, medicine shows were common in the 19th century United States...
where he goes from town-to-town, introducing a series of specialty musical acts and helping to sell Doc Dorando's all-purpose elixir
Elixir
An elixir is a clear, sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's ills. When used as a pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orally....
. But when he hears that Ethel's New York gig is a flop, Duke goes to New York where he is reunited with her. Soon after, Duke combines his stage show, the medicine show and Ethel's singing into a top nightclub act.
Cast
- Ralph CooperRalph CooperRalph Cooper may refer to:*Ralph Cooper , originator and master of ceremonies of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem* Ralph Cooper of KTRK-TV and KCOH...
as Duke Davis - Lena HorneLena HorneLena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
as Ethel Andrews - Laurence Criner as Doc Dorando
Music
The movie includes several outstanding artists, including Lena HorneLena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
and the Cats & the Fiddle. Lena Horne as Ethel sings the Harvey Brooks & Ben Ellison composition "I Know You Remember," with lyrics apropos of the film, "You & I have made a small beginning..." Lena also sings "Don't Let Our Love Song Turn Me Blue" with a lyric that foreshadows one of her future great roles: "True love will guide us through stormy weather." And she reprises "I Know You Remember." The Cats & the Fiddle sing "Killin' Jive." This is a great performance, four guys harmonizing on a very jumpin' good song.
Distribution
The Duke Is Tops has been released on DVD in North America. The film is in the public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
in America, and as such is available in multiple editions.http://www.profilms.com/publicdomain/index.htm