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Past Film/Video | Classics | Series & Festivals
Introduced by Ohio State Professor Ryan Friedman
New Restoration
Free for all audiences with ticket
Cinema Revival Festival Pass $25 members, students, and seniors $30 general public
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An American showgirl rocks the Caribbean in this memorable drama.
One of the few African American directors in the 1930s and 40s, Spencer Williams was a key producer of “race films”—low budget films targeted toward Black audiences in an era of segregated movie theaters. In Dirty Gertie, a celebrated showgirl from Harlem arrives on the fictional island of Rinidad to perform at a local nightclub. She melts the hearts of the local men, but also runs afoul of the local preacher who wants to shut her show down. Her troubled life in New York has followed her to Rinidad, leading to a shocking and tragic conclusion. Introducing the screening is Ohio State Professor Ryan Friedman (Department of English), who has written extensively on early African American films, including Dirty Gertie. (59 mins., 35mm)
Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA | Image courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive
Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY Cardinal Health Kaufman Development
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Rohauer Collection Foundation
WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY The Wexner Family Greater Columbus Arts Council The Columbus Foundation Ohio Arts Council American Electric Power Foundation L Brands Foundation Adam Flatto Mary and C. Robert Kidder Bill and Sheila Lambert Institute of Museum and Library Services Nationwide Foundation Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease Arlene and Michael Weiss
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Mike and Paige Crane Pete Scantland Axium Packaging Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams President Kristina M. Johnson and Mrs. Veronica Meinhard Nancy Kramer Huntington Lisa Barton Johanna DeStefano Russell and Joyce Gertmenian Liza Kessler and Greg Henchel Ron and Ann Pizzuti Joyce and Chuck Shenk Bruce and Joy Soll Clark and Sandra Swanson Jones Day
Past Film/Video
Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.
