Black and Tan is a 1929 musical short film (18 minutes) starring Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (or as it's named in the opening credits, "Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra").
Ellington plays, uh, Duke Ellington. Things are not going well for Duke, who is struggling to find work. His piano is nearly repossessed for lack of payment. His wife Fredi, played by Fredi Washington, succeeds in getting them a gig at a nightclub where Duke and the Orchestra will play and she will dance. The only problem is, Fredi has a serious heart condition which makes dancing hazardous.
Written and directed by Dudley Murphy (The Emperor Jones).
Tropes:
- As Himself: Ellington starring as a fictionalized version of himself; ditto Fredi Washington.
- Changed for the Video: The performance of "Black and Tan Fantasy" is quite different than in any of the versions recorded and released by Ellington. Clarinetist Barney Bigard has a solo, and a gospel choir sings background, befitting the somber mood as Fredi dies.
- Downer Ending: Fredi dies in her bed as "Black and Tan Fantasy" ends.
- Fan Disservice: Washington in a very revealing dancing outfit—but she is shown to be severely ill.
- Fanservice Extra: A whole squad of chorus girls takes the stage after Fredi has her attack.
- Impairment Shot: Much of the performance of Ellington and the Orchestra is shot as an Impairment Shot from the POV of Fredi, who is suffering a heart attack. A kaleidoscope effect shows multiple shots spinning around as Fredi tries to stand up.
- Monochrome Casting: An all-black cast.
- The Musical Musical: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, playing in a club.
- The Show Must Go On: "Keep the show on!", cries the MC after Fredi has her attack. He hustles the dancing girls onstage, but the curtain falls soon after anyway.
- Titled After the Song: Takes its title from Ellington's 1927 composition "Black and Tan Fantasy".
- Title Drop: "Play me the 'Black and Tan Fantasy'", asks a dying Fredi of Duke.
- Uncle Tomfoolery: Even a film with an all-black cast couldn't escape this in 1929. A goofy guy and his goofy young assistant, talking in stereotypically uneducated speech, show up to repossess Duke's piano. Fredi bribes them with a bottle of gin.
