Minstrel Man

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
Original title Minstrel Man
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1944
length 69 minutes
Rod
Director Joseph H. Lewis
Edgar G. Ulmer
Wallace Fox
script Irwin Franklyn
Pierre Gendron Original Story
: Martin Mooney , Raymond L. Schrock
production Leon Fromkess
for PRC Pictures Inc.
music Ferde Grofé Sr.
Harry Revel
George A. Norton
Paul Francis Webster
Ernie Burnett
Music Director: Leo Erdody
camera Marcel Le Picard
cut Carl Pierson
occupation

Minstrel Man is a 1944 American drama film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and Edgar G. Ulmer . Benny Fields and Gladys George star in this drama with music .

action

The Minstrelkünstler Dixie Boy Johnson has gone from the boards of Vaudeville highly fought and now occurs on Broadway on. On the night when he is supposed to appear for the first time with his own show "Minstrel Man", his beloved wife Caroline comes to the hospital with labor pains, where the couple's first child is to be born. Lew Dunn, his producer, insists that Dixie get on with his show and not rush to the hospital to see his wife. As soon as Dixie has finished his show, he learns that Caroline died shortly after the baby was born. Dixie is rigid with pain and shocked by the loss he has suffered, even if he does not want to continue performing. He entrusts his little daughter, whom he names Caroline after her mother, to his friends May and Lasse White and sets off on a trip through Europe.

Johnson did not return to New York until five years later and was warmly welcomed by his audience. When he wants to take responsibility for his daughter, May weighs it down and tells him that the little girl thinks she and Lasse are her parents. Since Dixie has a guilty conscience, he is satisfied with May's refusal and leaves the city again to accept an engagement in Havana . When asked during a show to sing "Remember Me to Carolina", the song he wrote for his wife, he bursts into tears and flees backstage. He decides to return to New York. However, the ship he booked the crossing on sinks and Dixie is listed as one of the victims.

When May finds out about this, she decides to finally tell Caroline the truth about her origins. Dixie, who has learned from the newspaper that he is considered dead, decides to go on living under the name Jack Carter.

Years have passed and Caroline is celebrating her 15th birthday. She also invites producer Lew Dunn to her party, whom she wants to convince to produce a "minstrel show" on Broadway. The young, talented girl can actually impress Dunn and bring her to revive the "Minstrel Man Show" as "Dixie Girl Johnson". Dixie himself now appears in a shabby nightclub in San Francisco , where he entertains the audience with piano playing and singing. From his former agent Bill Evans, who found him after a long search in the club, Dixie learns that his "Minstrel Man Show" is to be performed again. Bill wants Dixie to come back to New York as he still owns the rights to the show. In fact, Dixie comes back with him but has doubts about how to act. On the evening of the opening, he is behind the stage when his daughter enters. May notices him and asks forgiveness for her behavior. When Caroline sings the song that made her father famous, it is clear to Dixie that he will not put any obstacles in the way of his child. Of course, he stays and, at Mays and Lew's request, goes on stage at the end of the performance to contest the final with Caroline.

Production and Background

The film was shot from January 31 to February 14, 1944 and from March 16 to the end of April 1944. The film had its premiere in the 15th week of July 1944 in New York . On August 1, 1944, it was generally released in cinemas.

The industry magazine The Hollywood Reporter read that production of the film had to be suspended for over a month because director Wallace Fox and actress Gerra Young, who was originally supposed to play Caroline, fell ill. When Young had recovered so far, the health department refused to participate in the dance scenes, as they were too strenuous and could lead to a relapse. She then replaced the studio with Judy Clark. The delays resulted in follow-up costs and the insurance company then refused to continue to insure anyone under the age of 18. After production resumed, Joseph H. Lewis took over directing as Fox was still suffering from the flu. Binnie Barnes , who was supposed to play the role of May White, came into conflict with existing engagements due to the delays and had to be replaced. Director Edgar G. Ulmer, who had started shooting the film but clashed with Lewis after a few days, was then asked to take care of the sequences that played on the stage.

Nominations / Awards

The film received two Academy Award nominations in 1945

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Minstrel Man Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)