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Harlem Double Feature: Gang War (1940) / Broken Strings (1940)

Leo C. Popkin (Director), Bernard B. Ray (Director), Ralph Cooper (Actor), Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
IMDb5.7/10.0
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October 20, 2022 		—
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Genre Classic
Format NTSC, Multiple Formats, Black & White
Contributor Bernard B. Ray, Leo C. Popkin, Ralph Cooper, Clarence Muse
Language English
Runtime 2 hours and 3 minutes
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Product Description

Gang War (1940, B&W): Bullets fly and blood flows in the streets of Harlem as three rival gangster bosses vie for control of the lucrative jukebox racket. Aptly named "Killer" Meade (Ralph Cooper) eventually rises to the top of this seamy heap by ruthlessly exterminating the competition, but the one person closest to him puts the police on his trail. The all-powerful crime lord is caught in a running gun-battle with the cops across the rooftops of the city.

A rugged and charming actor, multi-talented Ralph Cooper was variously billed as the "Bronze Bogart" and the "Dark Gable." A song-and-dance man, he learned the movie trade by paying close attention on the set while choreographing the Shirley Temple film, Poor Little Rich Girl. He went on to make a series of hits on the "Black" cinema circuit. Cooper was also one of the founders and early emcees at Harlem's famed talent showcase, the Apollo Theater. Gang War was directed by crime film specialist, Leo C. Popkin, who produced the noir classic D.O.A. in 1951. Starring Ralph Cooper, Gladys Snyder, Maceo Sheffield. Directed by Leo C. Popkin.

Broken Strings (1940, B&W): The gifted hands of a world-renowned musician are crippled in a car crash. Reduced to giving lessons to children on the instrument he once mastered, violinist Arthur Williams (Clarence Muse) has become an embittered malcontent. Frustrated by the apparent lack of discipline in his students (one of them, his own son), and despairing of the decadent rise of primitive swing music, he is sorely in need of some kind of miracle-whether medical or musical.

Revered black actor Clarence Muse brings depth and gravity to this inspiring tale of the curative powers of love and music. Muse had a distinguished 50-year career in both "black" and "white" cinema, dating back to 1929, appearing in such classics as Huckleberry Finn (1931), White Zombie (1936), Count of Monte Cristo (1934), Show Boat (1936), Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Heaven Can Wait (1943), Double Indemnity (1944), Lost Weekend (1945), Porgy and Bess (1959), Car Wash (1976) and The Black Stallion (1979). Broken Strings also features an adolescent appearance by Our Gang graduate, Matthew "Stymie" Beard. Starring Clarence Muse, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Darby Jones. Directed by Bernard B. Ray.

Product details

  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.5 x 5.35 x 7.5 inches; 3.28 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2233989
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Leo C. Popkin, Bernard B. Ray
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Multiple Formats, Black & White
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 3 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ October 20, 2022
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Ralph Cooper, Clarence Muse
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Alpha Video
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FFJYWU
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

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4 out of 5 stars
12 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Herbert Booker
    5.0 out of 5 stars African-American films with soul!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ralph Cooper was Hollywood's George Raft and James Cagney in African-American films of the 1930s and 1940s. The film "Gang War" was very well made and was realistic too! The double-feature "Broken Strings" was also a very moving portrayal of an embittered musician who goes through many changes in life. HARLEM DOUBLE FEATURE is a great deal and worthy of your DVD Library! Witness a different perspective of movies through the eyes or black actors, directors and producers as see an important part of American one may have otherwise missed! Amazon.com is the best place for DVDs, books, etc., its a "win-win" situation and the prices are reasonable.
    One person found this helpful
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  • w j abramson
    5.0 out of 5 stars his 'muse' still shines
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    clarence muse remains a much too-overlooked force in the history of cinema; not just blackcinema, but overall inthe formative era of cinema. ths is not a 'black comedy' but a heavy, dramatic turn which should go a long way in reminding scholars of the role he played in the formation of credibilty for black entertainers of substance..
    One person found this helpful
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  • MeMyselfandI
    3.0 out of 5 stars Two Movies for the price of one!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Well, lets see here. I always enjoyed these all black race films, race films were the only cinema that allowed blacks to play people from all walks of life, be glamourous, beautiful, sophisticated, classy, and create their own images, yes, these films aren't the best but if one isn't so critical, you can see there were potential talents and some who truly gave good acting performances in these films. Broken Strings is a very enjoyable movie with a talented cast, Clarence Muse, Sybil Lewis, Tommie Moore, Edward Thompson, Darby Jones are the ones who give very complimentary performances. The movie is short and to the point but entertaining and complete. Sybil Lewis was an excellent black actress, she usually played the sophisticated, snooty, classy, demure but effective actress in the same fashion as Rosalind Russell and Myrna Loy. Only in race films was she able to display her talent, in Hollywood films she had to play maids but she still was classy with it. Gang War is a worthwhile film, if you have nothing to do for an hour, you could watch this movie to pass the time. I like these race films because if the acting isn't so great, well, at least one could check out the fashions, nightclubs scenes, and the entertainment, to see blacks as they really were not the stereotypical way Hollywood portrayed them. Sometimes I wonder how it could have been if blacks were given a chance in Hollywood to do versatile roles as the ones they did in race films. Another reason why I like watching these race films is because I'm able to discover other black acting talents that I never heard of. I discovered there were other greats besides Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horne.

    The only real complaint I have is I wish the quality was better on these films. I've seen better quality of these films in other places but I guess you get what you pay for!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Gisele
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cooper/Muse
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed both movies. "Broken Strings" was especially nice as it taught a good lesson. It's good to be able to see these pioneers do what they did for their time and the generations to come.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • cruiser
    3.0 out of 5 stars Harlem bust
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This dvd of Harlem features was okay if you like gangster movies
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  • Joseph NYC
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    its an ok movie
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