Melancholy Dame (1929)
A sharp little 1929 comedy short with an all-Black cast, built around nightclub jealousy and comic scheming.
Melancholy Dame - Movie Information
- Original Title: Melancholy Dame
- Release Year: 1929
- Directed by: Arvid E. Gillstrom
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy
- Runtime: 21m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 2, 1929 (United States)
- Production Companies: Christie Film Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
Melancholy Dame - Plot
A nightclub owner's wife, jealous of his attentions to his star singer, schemes to get her fired.
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Melancholy Dame - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Arvid E. Gillstrom
Main Cast
- Edward Thompson
- Evelyn Preer
- Spencer Williams
- Roberta Hyson
- Charles Olden
Writers
- Alfred A. Cohn
Producers
- Al Christie
Melancholy Dame - FAQs
What is Melancholy Dame about?
Melancholy Dame is a 1929 short comedy centered on jealousy and rivalry at a nightclub. A nightclub owner's wife grows suspicious of her husband's fondness for his star singer and hatches a scheme to have the performer fired, leading to comedic complications along the way.
Who are the main actors in Melancholy Dame?
The film features Edward Thompson as Permanent Williams, Evelyn Preer as Jonquil Williams, Spencer Williams as Webster Dill, Roberta Hyson as Sappho Dill, and Charles Olden as Florian Slappey. It's a notable early showcase for Black performers in Hollywood.
Is Melancholy Dame historically significant?
Absolutely. Melancholy Dame stands out as one of the early all-Black cast sound-era short films produced in Hollywood. It offered rare screen time to Black performers like Evelyn Preer and Spencer Williams at a time when such opportunities were extremely limited in mainstream American cinema.
Who directed Melancholy Dame?
Melancholy Dame was directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom, a prolific director of short comedies during the silent and early sound era. The film was produced by Al Christie through the Christie Film Company, a studio known for its comedy shorts.
When was Melancholy Dame released?
Melancholy Dame was released on February 2, 1929, in the United States. It arrived during the transitional period between silent films and talkies, making it a fascinating artifact of early Hollywood's shift toward synchronized sound production.
How long is Melancholy Dame?
Melancholy Dame runs for approximately 21 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brief runtime, it packs in a full comedic storyline built around jealousy, rivalry, and nightclub intrigue, delivering plenty of entertainment in a compact package.
What is the all-Black cast significance in Melancholy Dame?
Melancholy Dame features an entirely Black cast, which was exceptionally rare for mainstream Hollywood productions in 1929. Films like this provided Black performers a platform to showcase their talents beyond the stereotyped roles typically assigned to them in white-led productions of the era.
What are similar movies to Melancholy Dame?
If you enjoy Melancholy Dame, you might also like Midnight Menace (1946), Back Stage (1919), Solid Serenade (1946), and The Mischief Makers (1957). These short comedies share a similar spirit of lighthearted mischief, musical settings, and ensemble character-driven humor.
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