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them brilliant. But the best of most famous dance, the "Step Dance", stands out as one of his most memorable dances of all time... Robinson displays little of the athleticism of the marvelous brothers, but his grace and lithe moves cannot be matched. It's as if this energized movement a simple warm-up for something else—a leap across drums as he performs in the "Drum Dance" or the slip and slides of the marvelous sand dance of Stormy
Weather. But there is something so abstract and pure about his "Step Dance," that, in my estimation, it can’t be matched.
679:'Harlem Is Heaven' has one strong point in its favor—it's different. One theory the public is clamoring for anything that varies the steadiness of their film diet, theatres are now generally welcoming anything off the beaten track. This inexpensively-made talker with an all-colored cast, might fill the bill...Strictly on merit, not holding a candle to Hollywood-made product, 'Harlem Is Heaven,' however, has the odds in its favor as a money-maker in many respects. It stars Bill Robinson, tap dancer, standard in
374:, declaring her his "personal and private property". He then orders Chummy to invite Jean to a party at the theater after that evening's show. The party in reality will be set up as an intimate dinner with just Money. Chummy warns Jean of Money's intentions, but she ignores him and goes to the office, where the theater boss forces himself on her. As she struggles to leave, Bill enters the office, a fight ensues, and Bill knocks out Money. The next day Bill and Jean learn they have been fired.
523:
370:), Acme's star performer and director of its dance and other stage productions. There Jean also meets another performer, a handsome young actor and dancer named "Chummy" Walker (Henri Wessell). Both Chummy and Bill are immediately smitten with Jean even though she initially refers to them as her protective "big brothers". Money, however, has his own plans to seduce her. After a stage rehearsal, Money warns Chummy that "Miss Stratton" is more than his
406:
proving Money's guilt, which results in Chummy's release from jail. Spider then learns from newspaper reports that it was Money, not Chummy, who had concocted the phony investment. Now seeking his own revenge for the loss of his money, Spider confronts Money in his office. After Money tries to shoot him, Spider uses a razor to kill the crime boss as he pleads for mercy. The story then ends in Bill's apartment, where Bill, his mother visiting from
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Bill quickly gets a new job performing at a nearby nightclub owned by Knobs Moran (Bob Sawyer), Money's bitter rival in both entertainment and crime. Money now seeks revenge, especially against Chummy for divulging his plan to take advantage of Jean. Money then hatches another plan, one to get Chummy
696:
Franklin's all Black 1932 movie Harlem is Heaven is a disaster of story and acting, with an absolutely remarkable cast, nonetheless, of musicians and dancers, including Bill
Robinson and Eubie Blake and his Orchestra. Robinson is the center of this piece and does numerous numbers throughout, all of
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or gambling, as well as circulating phony investment schemes around New York as well as in
Philadelphia and other cities. After the officer and the onlookers leave, Money offers Jean a job at his Acme Theatre, gives her some cash as an advance on her salary, and tells her to report to his office the
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and colored shows. Where that name and artist's work is known, which takes in every key in the country, there is a certain general draw to be expected through the
Robinson name...Bill Robinson's personality stands out boldly. He's more than an actor here than a dancer, though the hoofing, including
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African-American actors, dancers, musicians, and supporting players comprise nearly the film's entire cast, although there is an uncredited white actor with a speaking part, who portrays a district attorney. There are also white extras portraying peripheral characters, including an assistant to the
320:
Many years ago a jobless actor stood by the big tree on 7th Avenue near 131st Street, Harlem, wishing for work. While leaning against this tree he heard that a downtown manager was seeking him for a leading part in a new show. Since then this tree has become a favorite stopping place for unemployed
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so he is not openly involved, while assuring Chummy that the new product is genuine and will earn huge profits for everyone. Initially successful selling the product, Chummy is soon arrested and jailed for fraud after all the investors lose their money, including Bill's close friend John "Spider"
405:
While visiting the police station to see Chummy, Jean learns of Money's role in devising the fraud, so she visits Greta (Alma Smith), one of Money's girlfriends who knows details about the scheme. After a brutal fight with Greta, Jean forces her to provide the district attorney with information
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the stair routine, is not at all missing in both evidence and appeal...Robinson with his very definite personality tops the other members of the cast by a mile...Though his voice is not always audible, Jimmy
Baskette is a very impressive type as the Harlem producer-racketeer heavy.
338:—stands next to "The Tree of Hope", openly praying and imploring the legendary tree to help find her work. When she stops one passing man to ask how long she needs to stand under the tree to get a job, a nearby police officer thinks she is a soliciting
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Ferdie Lewis and an appreciable number of other performers in the film are not credited onscreen but, according to the
American Film Institute, their participation in the production is "derived from contemporary sources". Refer to "Credits" link in
627:
The film also marks James
Baskett's screen debut as an actor, featuring him as the character "Remus A. Johnson". Fourteen years after his work on this production, Baskett would receive national fame for his portrayal of the controversial character
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productions and other group stage acts in rehearsals. During one scene in a neighborhood bar, Robinson sings a rendition of "Is You Is or Is You Ain't". Accompanying him at the piano and reciting lyrics in the "speak set" is
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in its June 7 edition also provides a lengthy assessment of the production. In its review the paper recommends the film's presentation to both white and black audiences, recognizes the drawing power of Bill
Robinson at the
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In the film's opening credits, "'The Cotton Club', Harlem" is also acknowledged for permitting "By
Special Arrangement" the participation of "Jimmy Baskette", Anise Boyer, Henri Wessell, Alma Smith, and Bob Sawyer in the
824:
The plot summary for this film is composed from multiple viewings of digital copies of the full 1932 release, which are generally available on YouTube and on other streaming platforms. See, for example,
410:, Jean, and Chummy have gathered. Earlier, Bill had realized that Jean and Chummy had fallen in love, so he urges them to get married before he cheerfully leaves the apartment to see another friend.
610:", he playfully and repeatedly moves up and down a set of portable prop stairs. Later, in 1935, he would perform a simplified version of this famous "stair step" routine with child star
666:, the film made over $ 4,000 during its opening week at just the Renaissance Theater in Harlem. That financial success led to its run being extended there.
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Bill
Robinson, who was 54 years old when the film was released, demonstrates his remarkable talents and agility as a dancer, especially in one solo number.
545:, New Jersey, and on location at the stages of several theaters, including the Ideal Theater in Philadelphia and the R.K.O. Kenmore Theater in
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918:, an entry in the digital library of the Department of Afro American Research, Arts & Culture (daarac.org). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
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municipal construction crews cut down "The Tree of Hope" as part of an extensive street-widening project by the City of New York.
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of residents walking and parading on the streets of Harlem, moving images that are accompanied on the screen by a scrolling
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and his orchestra perform most of the background music and instrumentals during the film's onstage song and dance numbers.
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889:, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Turner Broadcasting System, Time Warner, Inc., New York, N.Y. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
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346:), who gets the officer to release her. Money is a local theater owner widely known in Harlem. He is also a
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pans its storyline and acting but extols the dance and musical performances, especially those by Robinson:
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The title card in the film's opening credits notes a 1932 copyright for the production; however, both the
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Before its release in 1932, the film was issued a tentative review certification number—02816—by the
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actors. Its legend has spread throughout the country, and it is now famous as "The Tree of Hope".
871:"Harlem is Heaven (1932)", American Film Institute (AFI) online catalog. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
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in marketing a bogus new hair-straightening product. Money is careful in arranging the
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840:"Harlem Is Heaven (1932) | Bill "Bojangles" Robinson First Starring Role"
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Refer to opening credits in full digital copy of the film available at
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Mason, who had committed most of his life savings to the enterprise.
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At the appointed time, Jean meets Money, who introduces her to Bill (
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During its production, the film was identified by the alternate or
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Anise Boyer as Jean Stratton, the film's leading female character
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The film's romance-and-crime storyline is interwoven with solo
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district attorney and an attending officer at a police station.
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730:(AFI), Los Angeles, California. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
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Putney Dandridge, although in its 1932 review of the film
796:"Harlem is Heaven--Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake, 1932 Film"
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853:"Harlem is Heaven—Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake, 1932 Film"
827:"Harlem is Heaven—Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake, 1932 Film"
752:, San Francisco, California. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
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Another full digital copy of the film is available at
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and singing performances by Bill Robinson, as well as
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stars in his first leading role on screen, along with
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In 1932, according to the widely read New York-based
401:'s portrayal of "Money" Johnson as "very impressive".
1022:"Harlem is Heaven--Bill Robinson, Eubie Blake, 1932"
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Bill Robinson singing "Is You or Is You Ain't" with
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was filmed in just one week at the Ideal Studios in
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Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America
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One evening on a sidewalk in Harlem, Jean Stratton (
505:"pending the production company's adherence to the
688:In a more recent assessment of the film, in 2011,
509:demands regarding specific changes in the script."
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16:1932 American film directed by Irwin R. Franklyn
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288:, Anise Boyer, Henri Wessell, and Alma Smith.
855:, posted by Alan Eichler, February 14, 2016,
811:In 1934, just two years after the release of
798:, posted by Alan Eichler, February 14, 2016,
334:]—a young unemployed actress and dancer from
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378:imprisoned. Money enlists him as the
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955:"Irwyn Franklin | Harlem Is Heaven"
526:Bill Robinson (left) as himself and
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473:Margaret Jenkins (offscreen credit)
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933:, TCM. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
899:"Harlem Is Heaven/Harlem Rhapsody"
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479:"Slick" Chester (offscreen credit)
33:Title card in opening credits for
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69:Tishman & O'Neal (uncredited)
528:Henri Wessell as "Chummy" Walker
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485:George Nagel (offscreen credit)
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467:Ferdie Lewis (offscreen credit)
446:Henri Wessell — "Chummy" Walker
300:Preceding the opening scene of
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488:Naomi Price (offscreen credit)
264:and featuring a virtually all
55:Irwin R. Franklyn (screenplay)
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476:Jili Smith (offscreen credit)
458:— Himself (and his orchestra)
1057:African-American drama films
982:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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425:John Mason — "Spider" Mason
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943:"Song of the South (1946)"
452:Bob Sawyer — "Knobs" Moran
437:— Remus A. "Money" Johnson
180:Sack Amusement Enterprises
916:"Harlem Is Heaven (1932)"
724:"Harlem Is Heaven (1932)"
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702:References and notes
638:live-action animated
121:Elmer J. McGovern at
350:who specializes in
249:is a 1932 American
123:H.E.R. Laboratories
1016:TCM Movie Database
929:The Little Colonel
773:"Harlem Is Heaven"
621:The Little Colonel
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304:is a contemporary
296:"The Tree of Hope"
813:Harlem Is Heaven,
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151:and His Orchestra
113:Charles J. Levine
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456:Eubie Blake
441:Anise Boyer
332:Anise Boyer
290:Eubie Blake
282:Cotton Club
254:crime drama
149:Eubie Blake
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1042:1932 films
1036:Categories
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516:(AFI) and
340:prostitute
280:'s famous
198:1932-05-27
160:Production
145:Joe Jordan
52:Written by
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568:tap-dance
422:— Himself
380:front man
355:next day.
348:racketeer
162:companies
118:Edited by
1005:AllMovie
636:'s 1946
597:on piano
581:vocalist
547:Brooklyn
408:Richmond
372:protégée
310:prologue
251:pre-Code
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800:YouTube
777:Variety
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306:montage
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230:English
219:Country
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931:(1935)
278:Harlem
268:cast.
235:Budget
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