MovieChat Forums > Swing Time (1936) Discussion > Question on 'Bojangles of Harlem'

Question on 'Bojangles of Harlem'

posted 17 years ago by fast_fierce_and_funny
10 replies | jump to latest

Hello,

Did Astaire do "Bojangles of Harlem" in blackface as his own idea? Or did the blackface only come at the behest of the producer?

I was led to understand that Astaire genuinely wanted to do the number, but that he donned blackface at the behest of the producer and wore it only under protest.

Don't get me wrong: if he wore it on his own and as his own idea, I'm cool with that. It's just that I'd like to know either way, once and for all.

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[–] ladynoir15 17 years ago

Hmm, I wondered about that as well but I really don't know the truth.

The trouble with her is that she's here today and here tomorrow.
-Marian Webster

[–] olivabt 17 years ago

I always thought that he did it as a tribute to bill bojangles and therefore it prob was his idea.

[–] ladynoir15 17 years ago

Yea, after I replied to this I saw another thread saying that actually Astaire meant it as a tribute to his friend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

The trouble with her is that she's here today and here tomorrow.
-Marian Webster

[–] aciolino 16 years ago

Why would Fred Astaire object to the use of blackface?

Remember this was 1936 when blackface was as acceptable convention of stage make-up. It was not viewed pejoritavely, or with any connotations of negative stereotyping, the way we view it today, not by whites or blacks. In fact, many blacks used blackface. It was simply a mask.

[–] Mithol 16 years ago

I don't know where I heard this but I read somewhere that Astaire objected to doing it in blackface because he wanted to pay tribute to Bojangles' dancing and not the fact that he was black. But the studio threatened to fire him from the project if he didn't.

~Formerly known as "eowynmaiar".

[–] BeautifulLetdown88 15 years ago

I doubt the studio would've fired him from this film.

"Eva Longoria must be a lesbian cause she married a woman."

[–] fast_fierce_and_funny 15 years ago

Something new concerning this:

I was lucky enough to see this once again on the Silver Screen a couple of weeks ago and saw something I didn't notice before: Astaire is wearing the letter "B" on both shoulders of his "Bojangles of Harlem" costume as well as just under his handkerchief pocket on the front. I had to really look to see it, even on a 35mm print, but it's certainly there.

I don't know if this detail is visible on a DVD/Blu-Ray of the film. Assuming that Swing Time *has* been released on Blu-Ray, can someone comment on whether they can/can't see this, too?

At any rate, I mention it to help lend credence to the explanation that Astaire performed that number as a tribute to his friend and not as some kind of putdown, the blackface notwithstanding. As someone explained to me: that's not Fred Astaire performing up there, it's "Bojangles" Robinson.

[–] noirgirl 14 years ago

Unfortunately, if he hadn't done it in blackface, the vast majority of people would not have known that Fred was "being" Bill Robinson. That's a sadder commentary than the blackface. If you've seen Bill dance, you can recognize his style in Fred's homage. Beautifully done.

[–] Beau_Buffet 8 years ago

Yep, there seems to be a B under his handkerchief pocket : http://i.imgur.com/1Y10945.jpg

[–] poetcomic1 8 years ago

He doesn't wear true (and offensive) 'minstrel blackface' like Jolson (with white lips etc.) just darkens up and all the girls are in a low level 'tan' makeup. He wanted to do an homage to Bill Robinson and to do his homage he has to make himself up to LOOK like him. To look like him he has to wear Robinson's classic porkpie hat and outfit and.... darken up. A WHITE Bill Robinson... now THAT would be offensive.