Paradise in Harlem

Paradise in Harlem
Paradise in Harlem
Directed by	Joseph Seiden
Written by	Frank H. Wilson (story)Vincent Valentini (writer)
Cinematography	Charles LevineDon Malkames
Music by	Lucky MillinderJuanita Hall (uncredited)
Release date	1939 (1939);
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Paradise in Harlem is a 1939 American musical comedy-drama film written by Frank H. Wilson and directed by Joseph Seiden. It was first shown in 1939 starring Frank H. Wilson.^[1] It was released by Jubilee Production Co.

Premise

The story follows aspiring actor Lem Anderson in Harlem, who desires to act in a dramatic piece. Unfortunately for Lem, he is the witness of a crime and the mobster responsible forces him to leave town, where he becomes an alcoholic. Eventually he is drawn back to Harlem to get the chance to play Othello but is still on the hit list of a group of mobsters

Cast

Frank H. Wilson as Lem Anderson
Mamie Smith as Madame Mamie
Norman Astwood as Rough Jackson
Edna Mae Harris as Doll Davis
Merritt Smith as Ned Avery
Francine Everett as Desdemona Jones
Sidney Easton as Sneeze Ancrum
Babe Matthews as Laura Lou
Lionel Monagas as Matt Gilson
Madeline Belt as Acme Delight
Herman Green as Ganaway
Percy Verwayen as Spanish
George Williams as Runt
Alec Lovejoy as Misery
Lucky Millinder as himself - Bandleader
Juanita Hall as Singer in Audience

Production

This film was produced by Jubilee Pictures in 1939. Written by Frank L. Wilson and directed by Joseph Seiden. With cinematography by Charles Levine and Don Malkames, and screenplay by Vincent Valentini. And finally, music from Juanita Hall and Lucky Millinder

Soundtrack

Lucky Millinder with band & chorus - "I Gotta Put You Down" (Written by Lucky Millinder)
Mamie Smith - "Lord, I Love that Man"
Edna Mae Harris and Lucky Millinder - "Harlem Serenade" (Written by Vincent Valentini)
Sidney Easton and Babe Matthews - "How D'You Figure I'll Miss You?"
Mamie Smith and The Alphabetical Four - "Harlem Blues" (Written by Perry Bradford)
Babe Matthews - "Why Am I so Blue?" (Written by Joe Thomas)
Juanita Hall, Singers, Francine Everett, Frank C. Wilson and Babe Matthews - Gospel version of "Othello" (Written by Juanita Hall)

References

^Torriano Berry, S.; Berry, Venise T. (26 January 2007). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810864641.

External links

Paradise in Harlem at IMDb
Paradise in Harlem is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
Paradise in Harlem: "Harlem Blues" (3:17) on YouTube (updated from "Crazy Blues")

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[1] Torriano Berry, S.; Berry, Venise T. (26 January 2007). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810864641.

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