Name: Black and Tan Director: Dudley Murphy Studio: Dudley Murphy Productions / RKO release Starring: Duke Ellington, Fredi Washington, Hall Johnson Choir Release Date: December 1929 Runtime: \~19 minutes Format: Black-and-white, short film, sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: | Musical | Drama | Jazz | Short film --- Summary: *Black and Tan* (1929) is a musical short film that features Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra in a story blending drama and performance. The narrative follows a struggling musician (played by Ellington) whose pianist girlfriend, despite being gravely ill, insists on performing one final time with the band. The film combines a dramatic storyline with full-length jazz performances, including Ellington’s “Black and Tan Fantasy.” --- Background: This short film is one of the earliest screen appearances of Duke Ellington, capturing the Harlem Renaissance jazz scene at its peak. Directed by Dudley Murphy, who previously collaborated with experimental artists, the film aimed to showcase jazz not merely as entertainment but as an art form. Its release marked an important cultural moment, as African American musicians were rarely given central roles in Hollywood productions during the late 1920s. The film was also significant for featuring Fredi Washington, a celebrated actress and activist. --- Trivia: * The film helped introduce Duke Ellington’s music to a wider American audience beyond Harlem. * It was among the first sound films to give serious screen time to Black performers in a dramatic context. * Fredi Washington’s performance foreshadowed her later acclaim in films like *Imitation of Life* (1934). * The title “Black and Tan” references both Ellington’s famous composition and cultural spaces where Black and white patrons mingled despite segregationist norms. --- Hashtags: \#BlackAndTan #1929Cinema #DukeEllington #JazzFilm #HarlemRenaissance #ClassicShortFilm #FrediWashington #JazzHistory