The Notorious Elinor Lee
Encyclopedia
The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940
) is a race film directed, written, and co-produced by the African American
filmmaker Oscar Micheaux
.
The plans are derailed when Blue loses a key fight to a German boxer, but he works to regain his standing in the sport and is able to meet the German in a rematch after two years have passed. Lee and her partners bet against Blue, but they are financially ruined when Blue prevails in the fight and comes out the winner.
in The Bronx, New York. The film’s production was covered by Time magazine, which described filmmaker Micheaux as a “thickset, mild-mannered, chocolate-colored producer.”
Robert Earl Jones
was cast as Benny Blue, with Edna Mae Harris
as Fredi and Gladys Williams, the star of Micheaux’s Lying Lips
, as Elinor Lee. Two African American
actors with Hollywood careers beyond race films had smaller roles: Oscar Polk
, who was best known for playing the servant Pork in the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind
, and Juano Hernandez
, the Puerto Rico
-born star of the 1949 drama Intruder in the Dust
.
Hubert Julian
, the pioneering African American
aviator
, was an associate producer for the film. Julian announced plans to produce a series of films with Micheaux, including a biography on Julian's aviation career, but only collaborated with him on The Notorious Elinor Lee.
, Julian cautioned the opening night audience on the film's lack of polish by stating: “Don’t expect the perfection of a Hollywood picture, but know that we’ve done our very best.”
The Notorious Elinor Lee was Micheaux’s penultimate film production. He would make one final feature, The Betrayal
, for a 1948 release.
1940 in film
The year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney classics Pinocchio and Fantasia.-Events:*February 7 - Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio is released....
) is a race film directed, written, and co-produced by the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
filmmaker Oscar Micheaux
Oscar Micheaux
Oscar Devereaux Micheaux was an American author, film director and independent producer of more than 44 films...
.
Plot
Elinor Lee, a gangster’s moll living in the Harlem section of New York City, has signed up-and-coming boxer Benny Blue to a 10-year contract. Lee and a pair of corrupt fight promoter scheme to build up Blue as a potential champion, with the goal of betting against him when they force him to take a dive in a champion fight. Lee conspires to hire Fredi, an old friend of Blue and an escaped convict hiding from the law, to be his sweetheart and to control him for Lee and her partners.The plans are derailed when Blue loses a key fight to a German boxer, but he works to regain his standing in the sport and is able to meet the German in a rematch after two years have passed. Lee and her partners bet against Blue, but they are financially ruined when Blue prevails in the fight and comes out the winner.
Production
The Notorious Elinor Lee was shot at Biograph StudiosBiograph Studios
Biograph Studios was a studio facility and film laboratory complex built in 1912 by the Biograph Company, formerly American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, at 807 E. 175th Street, in the Bronx, New York....
in The Bronx, New York. The film’s production was covered by Time magazine, which described filmmaker Micheaux as a “thickset, mild-mannered, chocolate-colored producer.”
Robert Earl Jones
Robert Earl Jones
Robert Earl Jones was an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Cotton Club and The Sting and as the father of actor James Earl Jones.-Early life:...
was cast as Benny Blue, with Edna Mae Harris
Edna Mae Harris
Edna Mae Harris , was an American actress, born in Harlem. She was the premier black film actress during the late 1930's and early 1940's....
as Fredi and Gladys Williams, the star of Micheaux’s Lying Lips
Lying Lips
Lying Lips is a 1939, melodrama, race movie by Oscar Micheaux, starring Edna Mae Harris, and Robert Earl Jones .Lying Lips was the thirty-seventh film of Micheaux.-Plot:...
, as Elinor Lee. Two African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
actors with Hollywood careers beyond race films had smaller roles: Oscar Polk
Oscar Polk
Oscar Polk was an American actor, best known for his portrayal as the servant "Pork" in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind. On January 4, 1949, he was fatally struck by a taxi cab as he stepped off a curb in Times Square. At the time of his death he was scheduled to have a major role in the play...
, who was best known for playing the servant Pork in the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
, and Juano Hernandez
Juano Hernández
Juano Hernández was a Puerto Rican stage and film actor of African descent who was a pioneer in the African-American film industry. He made his debut in an Oscar Micheaux film, "The Girl from Chicago" which was directed at black audiences. Hernández also performed in a serious of dramatic roles in...
, the Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
-born star of the 1949 drama Intruder in the Dust
Intruder in the Dust (1949 film)
Intruder in the Dust is a 1949 drama film produced and directed by Clarence Brown and starring David Brian and Claude Jarman, Jr. The film is based on the novel Intruder in the Dust by William Faulkner.-Cast:* David Brian – John Gavin Stevens...
.
Hubert Julian
Hubert Julian
Hubert Fauntleroy Julian was a Trinidad-born African American aviation pioneer. He was nicknamed "The Black Eagle".-Biography:...
, the pioneering African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, was an associate producer for the film. Julian announced plans to produce a series of films with Micheaux, including a biography on Julian's aviation career, but only collaborated with him on The Notorious Elinor Lee.
Release
The film had its premiere in Harlem on January 15, 1940. Julian served as the master of ceremonies at the gala opening. Wearing formal clothing including a top hat, white silk gloves and an Inverness capeInverness Cape
Even though a wide variety of coats, overcoats, and rain gear are worn with Highland Dress to deal with inclement weather, the Inverness cape has come to be almost universally adopted for rainy weather by pipe bands the world over, and many other kilt wearers also find it to be the preferable...
, Julian cautioned the opening night audience on the film's lack of polish by stating: “Don’t expect the perfection of a Hollywood picture, but know that we’ve done our very best.”
The Notorious Elinor Lee was Micheaux’s penultimate film production. He would make one final feature, The Betrayal
The Betrayal (film)
The Betrayal is a race film written, produced, and directed by Oscar Micheaux.-Plot:Martin Eden is a successful African American farmer in South Dakota. He is in love with Deborah Stewart, but he believes that she is white and that she would not be interested in him. He is unaware that Deborah...
, for a 1948 release.