The relationship between an aspiring dancer and a popular songstress provides a retrospective of the great African American entertainers of the early 1900s.

On Wed., Feb. 3rd at 7 PM, we will discuss Stormy Weather (1943), a historically important showcase of some of the leading African American performers of the time, in an era when African American actors and singers when opportunities to appear in lead roles in mainstream Hollywood were rare. The film is  based upon the life of dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, as character Bill Williamson, a dancer who returns home after serving in World War I to pursue a career as a performer.
Along the way, he meets a beautiful singer named Selina Rogers, played by Lena Horne.  Dooley Wilson co-stars as Bill's perpetually broke friend and Emmett "Babe" Wallace co-stars as manager, Chick Bailey, vying for Lena’s hand.

Performers included Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, the Nicholas Brothers, comedian F. E. Miller, singer Ada Brown, and Katherine Dunham's dance troupe. In under 90 minutes, 20 musical numbers are performed in the film!

Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPAPHVAmp1U