Discover
Hallelujah is a cinematic milestone: the first all-black feature from a major studio and famed director King Vidor's (The Champ, The Big Parade) first talkie. But the film surpasses its historical significance, telling a story of such profound dignity and understanding that it as fresh and moving as the day it premiered. Featuring a largely unknown cast and infused with spirituals, folk songs, blues and jazz (Irving Berlin provided two songs for the production), Hallelujah follows the fortunes of Zeke (Daniel L. Haynes), a poor cotton farmer. He succumbs to the temptations of Chick (Nina Mae McKinney), a mercenary honky-tonk girl, finds salvation in religion, and falls again when his obsession for Chick overpowers his better self. Love, loss, passion, redemption and brilliant moviemaking: Hallelujah has it all.
Original Release
08/20/1929
US Release
08/20/1929
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Daniel L. Haynes | Zeke |
Nina Mae McKinney | Chick |
William Fountaine | Hot Shot |
Harry Gray | Parson |
Fanny Belle DeKnight | Mammy |
Everett McGarrity | Spunk |
Victoria Spivey | Missy Rose |
Milton Dickerson | Johnson Kid |
Robert Couch | Johnson Kid |
Walter Tait | Johnson Kid |
Directors
Writers
King Vidor, Wanda Tuchock, Richard Schayer, Ransom Rideout, Marian Ainslee
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Daniel L. Haynes | Zeke |
Nina Mae McKinney | Chick |
William Fountaine | Hot Shot |
Harry Gray | Parson |
Fanny Belle DeKnight | Mammy |
Everett McGarrity | Spunk |
Victoria Spivey | Missy Rose |
Milton Dickerson | Johnson Kid |
Robert Couch | Johnson Kid |
Walter Tait | Johnson Kid |
Dixie Jubilee Singers | Vocal Ensemble |
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard | Child |
Evelyn Pope Burwell | Singer |
Eddie Conners | Singer |
William Allen Garrison | Heavy |
Eva Jessye | Singer |
Sam McDaniel | Adam |
Clarence Muse | Church Member |
Arvert Pott | Black Child |
Madame Sul-Te-Wan | Church Member |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
King Vidor | Producer |
Irving Thalberg | Producer |