Collection | Films by Title: "D"
Listed by title followed by year of release, annotation, genre, running time, format, and director
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D.W. Griffith Prologue (1930) - Walter Huston interviews D.W. Griffith about his experiences as a child that inspired Birth of a Nation (1915). Documentary, 6 min., 16mm, dir: n/a.
Daffy Doc (1938) - On Cartoon Collection III. Children, 6 min., VHS, dir: Robert Clampett.
Dakan (1997) Drama, 87 min., DVD, dir: Mohamed Camara.
Dance in America: Dance Theatre of Harlem (1977) - Originally aired by KCET, Los Angeles, on March 23, 1977 as part of the Dance in America series for Great Performances. Dances performed include: "Forces of Rhythm," "Bugaku," "The Beloved," "Holberg Suite," and "Dougla." Documentary, 59 min., 16mm, dir: Merrill Brockway.
Dance with Me (1998) - Ruby (Vanessa L. Williams) is forced to balance her growing feelings for Rafael (Chayanne) and her desire to regain her standing as an international ballroom dancing champion. Drama, 126 min., VHS, dir: Randa Haines.
Dancehall Queen (1997) - Her safety threatened by local thug Priest (Paul Campbell) and her daughter Tanya (Cherine Anderson) and fending off advances from the lecherous Uncle Larry (Carl Davis), working mother Marcia (Audrey Reid) sees a dancehall contest as a way out of a Kingston ghetto - and to turn her adversaries against each other. Generally lauded for its gritty, unflinching portrayal of Jamaican ghetto life, the film eventually surpassed The Harder They Come (1972) as the island's highest-grossing movie. Drama, 98 min., DVD, dir: Rick Elgood & Don Letts.
Dancing Darkey Boy (1897) - Produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company. Documentary, 20 sec., VHS, dir: n/a.
Daratt (2006) Drama, 95 min., DVD, dir: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun.
Daresalam (2000) - In Africa's first feature film addressing the civil wars wracking the continent, friends Djimi (Haikal Zakaria) and Koni (Abdoulaye Ahmat) join a rebel group fighting an authoritarian government bent on overtaxing the populace in the fictional country of Daresalam. Eventually, Koni joins a splinter group willing to compromise with the government, while Djimi maintains his allegiances to the revolutionary hard-liners. Director Serge Coelo was perhaps inspired by the fighting in his native Chad. Drama, 104 min., DVD, dir: Issa Serge Coelo.
Dark Manhattan (1937) - The film is about the numbers racket in Harlem and the rise of Curly Thorpe (Ralph Cooper) to a position of eminence. His downfall comes at the end as he is assassinated in a street by his former associates. Ironically, he dies in a church. (Church on Central Avenue, sequence missing.) Everett G. Brown is uncredited as "Numbers Banker." Drama, 77 min., VHS, dir: Harry L. Fraser.
Date with Duke (1946) - Duke Ellington plays his composition, "Perfume Suite," in this George Pal animated puppetoon. Musical, 8 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: George Pal.
Daughters of the Dust (1991) - From their Sea Island home, matriarch Nana Peazant (Cora Lee Day) has taught her family the cultural values of their African heritage, but fears these values will be lost when the family migrates North to the mainland. The pregnancy of Eula Peazant (Alva Rodgers) leaves her husband Eli (Anderson) in turmoil as to his relationship to the unborn child (Kai-Lynne Warren). The return of Yellow Mary (Barbara O) from the mainland with her friend Trula (Trula Hoosier) leads to additional family tensions. Arthur Jaffa is the cinematographer. The film was awarded Best Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival. Drama, 113 min., 35mm, VHS, DVD, dir: Julie Dash.
Day of the Crow's Call (1986) - Veteran actor Joel Fluellen delivers a poignant portrayal of an old man who is spooked when he hears a crow's call while interweaving superstitions as he gazes at the African statue on his table. Drama, 5 min., VHS, dir: S. Torriano Berry.
Dead Man Out (1988) - Dr Alex Marsh (Danny Glover) is hired by the state to determine the sanity of Ben (Rubén Blades) who is on death row. When the state sets an execution date, Alex urges him to act as though he is insane. After Ben watches Calvin (Samuel L. Jackson), another prisoner die ignominiously, he decides, with his new found dignity, that he would rather try to escape. Val Ford plays a security guard. Drama, 87 min., VHS, dir: Richard Pearce.
Dead Presidents (1995) - Dead Presidents, a street term for dollar bills, tells the story of three Bronx-born men who return from Vietnam to a neighborhood ravaged by violence, drugs, and unemployment. Action, 119 min., VHS, dir: Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes.
Dearfield: The Road Less Traveled (1995) Documentary, 30 min., DVD, dir: donnie l. betts.
Death of a Prophet: The Last Days of Malcolm X (1981) - This docudrama follows the last hours of Malcolm X (Morgan Freeman) by weaving documentary footage with dramatic reenactment. The film emphasizes the mysterious circumstances surrounding the assassination. Ossie Davis, Yuri Kochiyama, and Amiri Baraka discuss the impact Malcolm had on their lives. Drama, 70 min., VHS, DVD, dir: Woodie King, Jr.
Death Ray [aka The Sky Racket] (1935) - Betrothed Marion (Joan Barclay) runs away before the wedding and her fiance Count Barski (Duncan Renaldo) tracks her escape. Jenny (Hattie McDaniel) is her handmaid. Drama, 52 min., VHS, dir: Sam Katzman.
Decks Ran Red, The (1958) - Story of a mutiny on an American freighter in the Pacific, with Dorothy Dandrige playing the flirtatious female. Drama, 92 min., 16mm, dir: Andrew L. Stone.
Deep Cover (1992) - Police detective Russell Stevens (Laurence Fishburne) goes undercover to bring down a major drug supplier with the help of a drug dealing attorney (JeffGoldblum). Glynn Turman plays Russell's junkie father who comes to a bad end as does Clarence Williams III who plays Ken Taft, a sympathetic cop. Victoria Dillard plays Betty McCutcheon; Roger Guenveur Smith appears as Eddie. Drama, 112 min., VHS, dir: Bill Duke.
Deep Impact (1998) Action, 121 min., DVD, dir: Mimi Leder.
Deep North, The (1988) - Three groups discuss problems of racial and ethnic prejudice in their New York communities. Documentary, 48 min., VHS, dir: William Greaves.
Defiant Ones, The (1958) - Two escaped convicts from a Southern prison farm, one white and one black, find themselves shackled together in their bid for freedom. Racial hostilities attenuate when they are both faced with the challenge to survive. Drama, 97 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Stanley Kramer.
Delmas the passion the pain (2004) - Documentary, 52 min., VHS, dir: Kevin Harris.
Deluge [aka Ye Wonz Maibel] (1997) - For Ethiopian filmmaker Salem Mekuria, the disappearance of her brother - a critic of the military government that replaced the deposed Emperor Haile Selassie - was a haunting, life-changing experience. Using such an intensely personal narrative, Mekuria explores the effects of the regime on Ethiopia between 1974 and 1991. Screened at more than a dozen film festivals across the world, the documentary received honors at NBPC’s Prized Pieces and the Black Maria Film & Video Festival. Documentary, 62 min., DVD, dir: Salem Mekuria.
Desert Ark, The (1997) Drama, 90 min., DVD, dir: Mohamed Chouikh.
Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (1964) - Drama, 120 min., DVD, dir: Glauber Rocha.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) - Based on crime writer Walter Mosely's novel, Easy Rawlings (Denzel Washington), a World War II veteran, is caught up in a web of intrigue when he's hired to track down a mysterious beauty (Jennifer Beals) in a blue dress. Drama, 101 min., VHS, dir: Carl Franklin.
Devil's Daughter, The (1939) - Love and hate set in Jamaica with Nina Mae McKinney as a young woman who comes to the island to take over her father's plantation. Includes a voodoo ceremony. Drama, 65 min., VHS, dir: Arthur H. Leonard.
DiAna's Hair Ego (1990) - Former cosmetologist DiAna DiAna with her partner Dr. Bambi Sumpter take on the task of educating the black community of Columbia, South Carolina, the education and effects of AIDS. Documentary, 29 min., VHS, dir: Ellen Spiro.
Diaspora Conversations: From Goree to Dogon (2000) - Documentary, 47 min., VHS, dir: Manthia Diawara.
Different Image, A (1982) - The film focusses on a beautiful young black woman Alana (Margot Saxon-Federella), who insists on defining herself and her relationship with her friend Vincent (Michael Anderson). The film confronts the sexism of black men who have adopted western attitudes towards women as sex objects. Drama, 51 min., 16mm, 3/4", VHS, dir: Alile Sharon Larkin.
Different World, A: No Means No (1989) - This episode of the television sit-com A Different World focusing on date rape originally aired on March 30, 1989 (season 2, episode 20). Television Series, 24 min., VHS, dir: Debbie Allen.
Directors, The: Spike Lee (2000) - This film profiles controversial director Spike Lee and features interviews with Wesley Snipes, Alfre Woodard, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Some of his influential films, including Do the Right Thing (1989), Jungle Fever (1991), and Malcom X (1992) are also discussed. Documentary, 60 min., DVD, dir: Robert J. Emery.
Dirty Gertie from Harlem, U.S.A. (1946) - In this remake of Rain, Gertie La Rue (Francine Everette) and her troup arrive at the Paradise Hotel in Trinidad, West Indies, but Gertie is actually on the run from one of the men she has jilted. Larry does find her by the end of the film and shoots her because he loves her. Spencer Williams appears briefly as Old Hager, a fortune teller who foreshadows Gertie's demise. Drama, 65 min., VHS, DVD, dir: Spencer Williams, Jr..
Disco 9000 [aka Fass Black] (1977) - Club owner Fass Black (Johnnie Taylor) has everything--success and money--until a mobster tries to take it all away. Fass decides that no one is going to run his life and his business. Drama, 94 min., 16mm, dir: D'Urville Martin.
Displaced Person, The (1976) - Two black men are physically exploited by a widow on a farm in Andalusia, Georgia. They are sent away because one has a relationship with and wants to marry a young white woman. Drama, 58 min., VHS, dir: Glenn Jordan.
DiversityInc: Women of Color Roundtable 2006 (2006) - Documentary, 44 min., DVD, dir: n/a.
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti (1985) Documentary, 52 min., DVD, dir: Maya Deren.
Divot Diggers (1936) - Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
DL Chronicles, The (2005) Drama, 132 min., DVD, dir: Quincy Lenear and Deondray Gossett.
Do the Right Thing (1989) - The film traces a single day on a block in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. On the hottest day of the year, the lives of the residents: Mookie (Spike Lee) a delivery man for Sal's (Danny Aiello) pizzeria; da Mayor (Ossie Davis); Radio Rayheem (Bill Nunn); Mister Senor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson); and Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito) will change forever. Drama, 120 min., VHS, DVD, dir: Spike Lee.
Do Your Job Right with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1984) - Weird Harold gets a job at the local ice cream parlor and takes his duties and responsibilities seriously. However some of the gang members don't share his sense of responsibility and expect him to give them free ice cream. Children, 15 min., 16mm, dir: Scheimer.
Doce Sillas, Las (1962) Comedy, 97 min., DVD, dir: Tomas Gutierrez Alea.
Dog Heaven (1927) - Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert A. McGowan.
Dogs is Dogs (1931) - Comedy, 20 min., DVD, dir: Robert F. McGowan.
Dolemite (1975) - Rudy Ray Moore is Dolemite in this action adventure. When drugs kill Dolemite's nephew, Dolemite seeks revenge on the local drug dealers. Action, 91 min., VHS, dir: D'Urville Martin.
Don't Call Me Stupid (1983) - This film documents the struggles of the large number of Canadian adults who are functionally illiterate, focusing on a group of women attending an educational program in Toronto. Drama, 28 min., 16mm, dir: Kit Hood.
Don't Leave Out the Cowboys (1988) - This film is dedicated to recognizing and remembering the history of the black cowboy of the American West through historical dates, images and stories. Documentary, 22 min., VHS, dir: Tumani Onabiyi and Andy McGuire.
Don't Play Us Cheap (1973) - A film version of Melvin Van Peebles' Broadway play. This is a story of two imps who try to break up a Saturday night party in Harlem. Filmed on location in New Mexico. Musical, 97 min., VHS, dir: Melvin Van Peebles.
Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost (1996) - Documents the ground-breaking and brief career of actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge. Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for an Academy for Best Actress. Includes archival footage of film appearances and interviews with Diahanne Carroll, Donald Bogle, Geraldine Branton and the Nicholas brothers. Documentary, 46 min., VHS, dir: n/a.
Dorothy Dandridge: Singing at Her Best (2006) - Musical, 60 min., DVD, dir: Obba Babatundé.
Double Deal (1939) - A gangster, played by Edward Thompson, double deals his boss (Maceo Sheffield) and tries to put the blame on a rival (Freddie Jackson) for his girlfriend's (Jeni LeGon) affections. He is double crossed by Jeni and ends up on the wrong end of a policeman's gun. Drama, 60 min., VHS, dir: Arthur Dreifus.
Double Dutch Jump Roping (2002) Documentary, 51 min., DVD, dir: David Hoffman.
Down in the Delta (1998) - Based on the novel by Myron Goble, Loretta Sinclair (Alfre Woodard), her mother Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice) and her two children live within the pit of despair known as inner-city Chicago. As Loretta plunges into alcohol and despair because she cannot find work, Rosa sends her daughter to the Mississppi delta for the summer to visit relatives Earl (Al Freeman, Jr.) and Annie (Esther Rolle). There, Rosa hopes Loretta will discover herself and begin to understand the importance of living life. Drama, 112 min., DVD, dir: Maya Angelou.
Down on the Levee (1933) - Children, 5 min., VHS, dir: Frank Moser.
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976) - Horror, 88 min., 16mm, DVD, dir: William Crain.
Dr. Dolittle (1998) - Eddie Murphy stars as Dr. John Dolittle in this remake of the classic doctor who talks with the animals. Ossie Davis is Archer Dolittle; Kristen Wilson is Lisa; Raven-Simone and Kyla Pratt are his daughters. Comedy, 85 min., VHS, dir: Betty Thomas.
Dr. No (1962) - James Bond (Sean Connery) travels to Jamaica to investigate the death of a fellow British agent. This leads him to the villain, Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), who is attempting to take over the world from his secret island lair. John Kitzenmiller plays Quarrel, Bond's contact in Jamaica. Action, 110 min., VHS, dir: Terence Young.
Dracula Nosferatu (192-) - Horror, 52 min., 8mm, dir: n/a.
Dragao da Maldade contra o Santo Guerreiro, O (1969) - Drama, 100 min., DVD, dir: Glauber Rocha.
Dreadlocks and the Three Bears (1991) - The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is told from an African American perspective in this short film written and produced by Alile Sharon Larkin. Children, 12 min., VHS, dir: Amandilo Cousin.
Dreamgirls (2006) - Musical, 130 min., DVD, dir: Bill Condon.
Dreams of Passion (1989) - This short focuses on intimacy and desire between two African American lesbians. Drama, 5 min., 16mm, dir: Aarin Burch.
Driving Miss Daisy (1989) - Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman) is hired by Miss Daisy's son (Dan Aykroyd) to drive for his aging mother after she wrecks the car. Colburn and Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy) have a tense relationship at first, but eventually build the friendship of a lifetime. Esther Rolle plays the dedicated housekeeper. Drama, 99 min., VHS, dir: Bruce Beresford.
Dry White Season, A (1989) - The politics of apartheid are put into human terms in this film about a prominent white schoolteacher (Donald Sutherland) who is awakened to the reality of South African justice partly through his relationship with an underground activist (Zakes Mokae). Drama, 107 min., VHS, dir: Euzhan Palcy.
Duel in the Sun (1946) - On a feudal Texas ranch two brothers fight over a "half-breed" Indian girl, and the railroad which wants to push across the ranch. Butterfly McQueen is Vashti in a poignant yet typical maid role. Western, 138 min., 16mm, dir: King Vidor.
Duke Ellington Story, The (1966) - This film displays Duke Ellington and his Orchestra in an early two-reeler, in concert on the French Riviera as well as the Good Year Jazz Show. Also included on the videocassette are clips from other Duke Ellington concerts (total video is 86 min). Music Performance, 25 min., VHS, dir: Bernard Rubin.
Duke is Tops, The (1938) - Musical romance with Lena Horne as Ethel, the successful performer who almost loses her man because his career as a producer is failing. They are reunited for the finale. Everett G. Brown is uncredited as the Sheriff. Also known as The Bronze Venus. Musical, 75 min., VHS, DVD, dir: William L. Nolte.
Dutchman (1966) - A middle class black man named Clay (Al Freeman, Jr.) is engaged in conversation with a white woman named Lula (Shirley Knight) on the subway. Lula questions, then attacks Clay's race and his right to middle class aspirations. Clay finally erupts in a passionate expression of black rage. Lula stabs Clay, killing him before moving on to another unsuspecting black man. Adapted from Amiri Baraka's play, the slightly expanded film version allegorically depicts black vulnerability to white treatment in America. Drama, 55 min., VHS, dir: Anthony Harvey.
Dynamite Chicken (1969) - The stand-up comedy act of Richard Pryor highlights this unorthodox look at the American Culture at the end of one of our nation's most tumultuous decades - the 1960's. Topics of interest includes sex, censorship, drugs, politics, Vietnam, etc. Music from Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King as well as a voice-over from Malcolm X's "Wit & Wisdom". Comedy, 75 min., VHS, dir: Ernest Pintoff.
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