Nina Mae McKinney's Halleluajah!
This is one of my favorite films. It's just a true masterpiece. It's a true story anyone can relate to. It's one of the most passionate films I've seen with Blacks but nothing everything surrounds blackness. I don't think Ethel Waters would have gave such an exbuerant performance as Nina Mae gave in this movie. Without her, I don't know if this movie would have been successful.
Ethel was the black and blue lady, you know sad type. As far Nina, she fit the role perfectly, young, beautiful, vivacious, wild but innocent. How she went from comedic and dramatic without missing a beat was amazing. She showcased so many talents in just one film, a singer, dancer, actress, comedian, dramatist, religious. I see Clara Bow and Nina Mae had such resemblances in performances, no wonder, they called her The Brown Clara Bow and The Black Garbo later on.
I think she set the bar in Hollywood because after more black actresses got chances in movies to pretty and vivacious like Theresa Harris and Mildred Washington. The black community was truly proud of Nina for introducing a new image of a black woman, she surely wasn't the homely, dark, overweight type.
She was the first in many leading movie magazines and entertainment magazines, some even on the cover. She went on to be the first black actress in leading pictures, tv and documentaries in Europe. She did it all in show business for sure. I think if anyone took the time and had patience to research her, their in for a treat. She's one of history's best kept secrets but the secret is coming out slowly but surely.
I'm finding out she had quite a journey in Hollywood. She left in 1935, because they cut her scenes in Reckless starring Jean Harlow because she was a little too sexy in her role as a singer. This was threatening to the world at the time to see black women outside the stereotype around whites who wanted to see the stereotype at the time. Nina was all glamed up and gorgeous as Jean Harlow but her part was cut to where she only sings behind Jean Harlow and you'll miss her if you blink. She sings a short but beautiful song.
King Vidor was nominated for best director, I believe. Nina Mae should have been nominated, she made that film. Even Vidor said she just became the part wholeheartedly bringing his vision to life accurately. I believe she deserved to be nominated but because of her race she wasn't. Sanders of the River was nominated but again she didnt win but the film won how idiotic is that, Paul Robeson and Nina was the film.
I think you all would enjoy Nina in Safe In Hell- she's in a white cast film but far from stereotypical, actually sex, sensual, charming, she interacts with whites in a way you never see in movies, there's hugging and sexual turn-ons, this is a good film, catch it. Sanders of the River, Gang Smashers and quite a few others are good. I think more then anything her biggest achievement was giving hope to hundreds of "colored gals" who were told they couldn't be a movie star like Nina Mae was told but because of her confidence she became the first movie star of her race like she dreamed.
I don't find too many people to converse with about Nina Mae but the few people I have found who are older then I have told me how it was having her as a movie star in their era. It's always exciting talking with the few left alive who was apart of her time. Like her talent, she left a lasting impression on people she encountered.
I have a website on her and other unsungs of the early era of entertainment.
http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ninamaemckinney/