Music Hath Harms
1929 film
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Music Hath Harms is an American film released in 1929. A two-reel short, it was produced by Al Christie.[1] The film stars Spencer Williams and Roberta Hyson with musical performances by Curtis Mosby and the Blues Blowers. It was part of the Florian Slappey series.[2] The story features a con man promising to wow an audience with a musical performance.[3] The film remains in existence and is available online.
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| Music Hath Harms | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Walter Graham |
| Screenplay by | Alfred A. Cohn |
| Story by | Octavus Roy Cohen |
| Produced by | Al Christie |
| Starring | |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film series, based on Octavus Roy Cohen's Darktown Birmingham stories published in the Saturday Evening Post include racial caricatures and exaggerated dialect.[4] The film is one of three that survive from the series produced by Al Christie and is among the early "talkie" (with sound) films featuring African American casts.[4] The other surviving films from the series are Framing of the Shrew and Oft in the Silly Night.[4] Williams also served as the assistant director on the film although he received no credits.[5]
Cast
- Spencer Williams as Roscoe Griggers
- Roberta Hyson as Zenia Sprowl
- Harry Tracy as Florian Slappey
- Nathan Curry as Prof. Aleck Champagne
- Leon Hereford as Sam Ginn
- Harry Porter as Willie Trout
- Curtis Mosby as Orchestra Leader
- Mosby's Blues Blowers as the Band
See also
- Music Hath Charms, a British musical comedy film released in 1935
