Black Film Center/Archive

Take Your Bags (1998) - A commentary on slavery, ancestors, and African influences on European art. Billops appears in front of the camera with the young Keita Omowali Erksine, who listens quietly as she tells her stories. The film, commissioned by the 1998 National Black Arts Festival, has been invited to participate in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Drama, 11 min., VHS, dir: Camille Billops.

Tale of a Dog (1944) - The gang overhears Buckwheat (Billie Thomas) and Big Shot talking about giving "small pox" to the gang. Not realizing "small pox" is a dog, they alert the neighborhood and health authorities and start a panic of outlandish rumours in the city. Comedy, 8 min., 16mm, dir: Cyril Endfield.

Tales of Manhattan (1942) - This film is a string of stories linked together by a coat stuffed with money and its effect on the lives of those who come into its possession. The coat finally falls into the hands of Southern black farm folk (Paul Robeson and Ethel Waters) who have to decide what to do with the money. Eddie Anderson is the preacher who has his own ideas. Drama, 118 min., VHS, dir: Julien Duvivier.

Talk, Don't Fight! with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1984) - A friend from school (Fernando) comes to Fat Albert and the gang with a problem. Fernando's older brother is in a gang and wants him to join as well. Fat Albert and the others convince Fernando not to join. Although Fernando does not join, his older brother learns the affects of gang violence the hard way. Children, 15 min., 16mm, dir: Marsh Lamore.

Talking with Thoreau (1975) - Documentary, 29 min., 16mm, dir: Richard Slote.

Tall, Tan and Terrific (1946) - Handsome Harry (Monte Hawley), owner of the Golden Slipper nightclub, is in love with Miss Tall, Tan and Terrific (Francine Everett) who works there. Harry fights with one of the gamblers at this club and when the gambler later dies, the murder weapon is traced to Harry who is jailed and faces the electric chair. Detective work on the part of Mantan Moreland clears Harry who is reunited with Miss Tall, Tan and Terrific who'd left town to avoid testifying against Harry. Music by Golden Slipper All Girl Band. Musical, 40 min., VHS, dir: Bud Pollard.

Tamango (1958) - This adaptation of Prosper Merimee's "Tamango" is concerned with the happenings aboard a slave ship plying the waters from Africa to Cuba. Dorothy Dandridge is Aiche, the island beauty who is torn between loyalty to her people in the hold and the passionate sea captain (Curt Jurgens). Released in the U.S. in 1959. Drama, 98 min., VHS, dir: John Berry.

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1932) - In this first of the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan series, Tarzan saves Jane, her father and her fiance from hostile natives as the trio look for elephant's graveyard. Action, 99 min., VHS, dir: W. S. Van Dyke.

Tarzan's Peril (1951) - A Tarzan adventure with Dorothy Dandridge in the lead as an African princess, who is kidnapped by a bellicose tribal leader but rescued by Tarzan (Lex Barker). Action, 75 min., 16mm, dir: Byron Haskin.

Taste of Dirt, The (2002) - Two seven-year-old African-American girls, Lisa and Joanna, experience problems of class and race on the school playground. Drama, 12 min., VHS, dir: Yvonne Welbon.

Teenagers: How to Get and Keep a Job (1985) - Documentary, 20 min., 16mm, dir: Stephen Wallen.

Ten Minutes to Live (1932) - Adapted from the three short stories of "Harlem After Midnight," a mystery-musical built around a threatening note which gives the heroine only ten minutes to live. Much nightclub business as the mystery unravels with sone and dance numbers and a stand up comedy routine. Billie Heywood is the nightclub M.C. Drama, 65 min., VHS, dir: Oscar Micheaux.

Territories (1984) - Isaac Julien's film about race, class and structure in Britain. Documentary, 25 min., VHS, dir: Isaac Julien.

Thank You M'am (1976) - A brief encounter between an older black woman and a black youth touches and visibly changes them. After a failed attempt to grab the woman's purse, the boy is taken to her home, where she washes his face and has him pay the consequences of his action. Based on a story by Langston Hughes. Drama, 14 min., 16mm, dir: Andrew Sugarman.

That's Black Entertainment: The Missing Link of American Cinema History (1989) - In the 1930s and 1940s, an underground film industry sprang up in the black community. Rare and historic movie footage from many forgotten films has been compiled in this tribute to treasures of black cinema. Documentary, 60 min., VHS, dir: William Greaves.

Third World Cop (1999) - Capone (Paul Campbell), an undercover policeman in Kingston, Jamaica, discovers that his best friend, Ratty (Mark Danvers), is the right-hand man of a local crime boss, Oney (Carl Bradshaw). Rita (Audrey Reid), Capone's ex-girlfriend who now lives with Ratty, tests Capone's loyalty to his friend and his duties as a cop. Drama, 98 min., DVD, dir: Chris Browne.

This is Nollywood (2007) Documentary, 56 min., DVD, dir: Franco Sacchi.

This Side of the River: Self-Determination and Survival in the Oldest Black Town in America (2006) - This documentary is a chronological survey of Princeville, NC, the oldest, black-chartered city in the United States. It documents the development of the city from the 1850s to the present and provides numerous first-hand accounts from the residents. It also talks about the effort to rebuild their city and preserve their heritage after a devastating flood in 1999. Documentary, 52 min., DVD, dir: Ryan Rowe & Drew Grimes.

Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) - A different style western set in the Southwest circa 1912. A young black couple go on a crime spree and are aided by poor blacks, Indians, and whites of the area. Western, 95 min., VHS, dir: Gordon Parks, Jr.

Those Beautiful Dames (1934) - Children, 7 min., VHS, dir: I. Freleng.

Three Smart Boys (1937) - The gang, with painted spots--Buckwheat's (Billie Thomas) of course, are white--plan to get the local doctor to close the school. Unfortunately, he is a vet performing experiments with a monkey. When Buckwheat fails to emerge from the doctor's office, the gang believes he's been turned into a monkey. Children, 10 min., VHS, dir: Gordon Douglas.

Three the Hard Way (1974) - Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, and Jim Kelly defeat fascist/racist whites planning genocide against black people in three of the largest cities in the United States. Action, 93 min., VHS, dir: Gordon Parks, Jr.

Tides of the Ocean: What They Are and How The Sun and Moon Cause Them (1964) - Educational video about the causes of ocean tides. Documentary, 17 min., 16mm, dir: James A. Larsen.

Tilaï (1990) - Drama, 81 min., VHS, dir: Idrissa Ouedraogo.

Time for Burning, A (1966) - This documentary depicts a young pastor in Omaha, Nebraska trying to promote racial integration in the congregation of a large Lutheran church in the mid-1960s. It traces the events leading to the resignation of the pastor. Documentary, 56 min., DVD, dir: Bill Jersey.

Time for Justice, A (1994) - The film documents the civil rights movement as told by the foot soldiers - those nameless people who committed acts of heroism and risked their lives for the cause of equality. Narrated by Civil Rights activist and NAACP Chairman, Julian Bond. This film is also the winner of the Best Documentary, Short Subjects Academy Award in 1995. Documentary, 38 min., VHS, dir: Charles E. Guggenheim.

Time to Kill, A (1996) - Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) takes the law into his own hands after the racially prejudiced legal system fails to punish the two white men who raped and killed his daughter. Carl joins forces with the white lawyer Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) helped by know-it-all lawyer Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock). Drama, 149 min., VHS, dir: Joel Schumacher.

To All My Friends on Shore (1972) - A black father, who skycaps at a Los Angeles air terminal, copes with his son's fatal disease while desperately trying to get his family out of the rat-infested ghetto. Drama, 74 min., 16mm, dir: Gilbert Cates.

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1972) - Depicts in play form the life and works of the late black playwright Lorraine Hansberry, author of "A Raisin in the Sun." Portrays her struggles from her first visit to the South, to her life on the streets of Harlem. Drama, 90 min., 16mm, dir: Michael Schultz.

To Have and to Hold: Men Who batter Women (1981) - This short documentary examines men who batter their wives as told through a series of interviews. Documentary, 20 min., 16mm, dir: Mark Lipman.

To Have and To Hold (2001) -- Tommy (Idus Moss) and Barbara (Kim Lovette) are planning on getting a divorce until Tommy's father passes away and leaves a substantial inheritance for him and his brother Sean (DL Powell). However, there is a stipulation in the will that says that the unhappy married couple must spend an entire weekend in a remote log cabin without arguing. Drama, 121 min., DVD, dir: Gregory Galloway, Sr.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - The story of this film is based on the novel by Harper Lee and includes the defense of a black man on trial for allegedly raping a white girl in a small Alabama town, while the real culprit is the girl's father. Brock Peters is Tom Robinson, the accused. Drama, 129 min., 16mm, VHS, dir: Robert Mulligan.

To Sleep with Anger (1990) - Harry Mention (Danny Glover) shows up unexpectedly one day at the home in Los Angeles of his old friend Gideon (Paul Butler) and Gideon's wife (Mary Alice). Harry's presence intensifies conflicts already present in the family, e.g. between Baby Brother (Richard Brooks) and Junior (Carl Lumbley) that have to be resolved. Sheryl Lee Ralph plays Linda, Baby Brother's wife; Vonetta McGee is Pat, Junior's wife. Drama, 102 min., VHS, dir: Charles Burnett.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995) - Three drag queens--Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze), Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes), and Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo)--start a journey from New York to Hollywood. When their car breaks down they end up adding zest to the life of a small Nebraska town. Comedy, 109 min., VHS, dir: Beeban Kidron.

Together In The Weather (1946) - In this George Pal Puppetoon Punchy and Judy live in facing houses of a weather clock. Judy tries various methods to attract the attentions of her male neighbor by appearing only when it is sunny, while Punchy only emerges when it is raining. Children, 7 min., VHS, dir: George Pal.

Tom Turk and Daffy (1944) - Children, 7 min., VHS, dir: Charles M. Jones.

Tongues Untied (1989) - Marlon Riggs captures the dilemma faced by black gay men with dual loyalties and identity conflicts regarding being black and being gay. The film uses poetry, anecdote, historical footage, and dramatic re-enactments to explore such concerns as racism, homophobia, crack and AIDS. Documentary, 55 min., VHS, dir: Marlon Riggs.

Toni Morrison: A Writer in America (1987) - In this autobiographical documentary, Pulitzer Prize winning author Toni Morrison speaks about earning her Master's degree from Cornell University then later joining a writers group in Washington D.C. to enhance her writing skills and support other writers. She displays a passion for writing and considers it not only a profession but a hobby as well. Documentary, 28 min., VHS, dir: Richard O. Moore.

Torture of Mothers, The (1980) - Woodie King, Jr. deals with police brutality, poverty, narcotics, crime and murder in Harlem, in the summer of 1964 as he chronicles the harassment and eventual indictment and conviction of six black youths for the stabbing murder of a woman. The horrors of the trial and descriptions of social unrest are told from the perspective of the boys' mothers. Drama, 60 min., VHS, dir: Woodie King, Jr..

Touki Bouki [aka The Journey of the Hyena] (1973) -- Mory and Anta are two young lovers that are desperate to find a way to escape Dakar for Europe. They set off on an adventure through a cross-section of Senegalese society on Mory's motorbike. The film has become a landmark of African cinema. Drama, 85 min., VHS, dir: Djibril Diop Mambéty.

Trading Places (1983) - Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) outwits the millionaire Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) who bet each other $1.00 that they can, by putting Valentine into their wealthy young broker's (Dan Aykroyd) place, prove (or disprove) that heredity triumphs over environment. Comedy, 118 min., VHS, dir: John Landis.

Trailers (1973-1988) - Miscellaneous, 10 min., VHS, dir: various.

Train Ride (2005) - Drama, 93 min., DVD, dir: Rel Dowdell.

Training Day (2001) - Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), a rookie policeman in Los Angeles, is anxious to join the elite narcotics squad led by veteran Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). Soon, however, Hoyt discovers that Harris’ use and abuse of power entangle him into professionally and morally questionable practices. Drama, 122 min., DVD, dir: Antoine Fuqua.

Treemonisha (1982) - Based on Scott Joplin's score, the all black cast of the Houston Opera Theatre performs this opera. Musical, 86 min., VHS, dir: Sidney Smith.

Trespass (1992) - Two Arkansas fire fighters stumble upon a map which leads to hidden gold stashed in an abandoned East St. Louis tenement. But while looking for the money, they watch a drug related murder. Now, they are trapped in an urban nightmare. Ice-T and Ice Cube are pitted against each other in a complicated plot that uses a rap soundtrack, video, and much gratuitous violence. Action, 101 min., DVD, dir: Walter Hill.

Trolley Ahoy (1936) - Comedy, 8 min., DVD, dir: Tom Palmer.

Trouble Man (2000) - On The Best of the Acapulco Black Film Festival (2001). Comedy, 13 min., DVD, dir: Dabo Ché.

Truck Turner (1974) - A melodrama set in Los Angeles in which Isaac Hayes plays a skip tracer (a person who hunts down bail jumpers). Cameos by Dick Miller and Stymie Beard. Action, 91 min., DVD, dir: Jonathan Kaplan.

True Identity (1991) - When a jetliner seems about to crash, a businessman, Leland Carver/Frank Luchino (Frank Langella), reveals his secret mobster past to fast-talking actor Miles Pope (Lenny Henry). When the plane lands safely, Miles must assume various identities to elude Luchino's hit men. Charles Lane plays Duane, a special effects artist who creates a new identity for Miles; Anne-Marie Johnson is Kristi, Miles' love interest. Melvin Van Peebles plays a taxi driver; Ruth Brown is Martha, and James Earl Jones plays himself. Comedy, 93 min., VHS, dir: Charles Lane.

True Story of Glory Continues, The (1991) - Soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first black fighting unit of the American Civil War, are portrayed through period drawings, sketches, paintings and photos and additional footage from the motion picture Glory. Documentary, 45 min., VHS, dir: Ben Burtt.

true. (1998) - This short with minimalist funny nonsense phone dialog between five young men spawned both the pop-culture catch phrase "Whazzup?" and the series of Budweiser beer commercials. The film is part of the series Afrocentricity, Vol. 1 including six other short movies. Comedy, 3 min., DVD, dir: Charles Stone III.

Tsoga (2002) - A Soweto school made headlines when 70 percent of its students tested HIV positive. The film focuses on Joyce, an ex-student, who shares her sufferings. The movie is a part of the 25-cassette series Steps for the Future dealing with AIDS in Southern Africa. Documentary, 8 min., VHS, dir: Sechaba Ramotoai.

Tsotsi (2005) - Based on the novel by acclaimed South African writer Athol Fugard, Tsotsi follows the life of a young, black South African living a life of crime until he discovers the infant son of a woman he has just murdered in the back seat of her car. Winner in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2006 Academy Awards. Drama, 94 min., DVD, dir: Gavin Hood.

Tupac: Resurrection (2003) - The film explores Tupac Shakur's life, music, and death in 1996 by using voice-overs, interviews, and vocal tracks recorded by the late rap artist. It includes rare footage, home movies, private photographs, and excerpts from Shakur's poetry, journals, and letters, as well as Tupac memorabilia provided by his fans. Documentary, 112 min., DVD, dir: Lauren Lazin

Turntable (2005) - Drama, 95 min., DVD, dir: Robert Patton-Spruill.

TV or Not TV? with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1976) - Monroe spends so much time watching TV that he forgets about his friends and his commitments. As a result of this he misses the opportunity to go to a rock concert and must watch it on TV instead. Children, 15 min., 16mm, dir: Hal Sutherland.

Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela (2006) Documentary, 73 min., DVd, dir: Thomas Allen Harris.

Two Dollars and a Dream (1987) - Using on-camera interviews with members of her company, franchise operators, friends and acquaintances, and archival footage, Stanley Nelson documents the life of Madame C.J. Walker, the first woman in America to start from nothing and build a million dollar business. The film explores the remarkable progress of Walker's business (hair and skin care products for black women) under her hand and its subsequent decline toward the end of her daughter A'Lelia's life. Documentary, 56 min., VHS, dir: Stanley Nelson.

20,000 Eyes (1961) - Drama, 61, 16mm, dir: Jack Leewood.

25th Hour (2002) - Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) reevaluates the last 24 hours of freedom that he has before he is condemned to a seven-year jail sentence for drug dealing. Drama, 135 min., DVD, dir: Spike Lee.

Twin Cousins (1999) - On The Best of the Acapulco Black Film Festival (2001). Drama, 28 min., DVD, dir: Rod Gailes.

Two Generations (n.d.) - This British colonial propaganda film is about how white settlers "saved" Africa from famine, starvation, etc. Documentary, 16 min., 16mm, dir: n/a.

Two Gun Man from Harlem (1938) - Musical western in which a phony deacon becomes a two-gun- totin' man. Faithful Mary, a former Father Divine "angel" appears. Western, 60 min., VHS, dir: Richard C. Kahn.

Two Knights of Vaudeville (1916) - Comedy, 8 min., 16mm, dir: n/a.

Two Towns of Jasper (2002) - Using two separate filmmaking crews (an all-white team interviewing fifteen white residents and an all-black team interviewing fifteen black residents), this film depicts two strikingly different racial views by the citizens of Jasper, Texas, the location of the racially-motivated murder of James Byrd Jr., an African-American, by three white men in 1998. Documentary, 83 min., VHS, dir: Marco Williams & Whitney Dow.

Ty's Home Made Band (1983) - A mysterious traveling minstrel (Taj Mahal) convinces young Ty that he can create his own band with homemade instruments. Following his advice, Ty sets out to include the whole neighborhood in his "Home-Made Band." Based on the novel by Mildred Pitts Walter. Drama, 19 min., 16mm, dir: Templeton.