''Sepia Cinderella'' is a 1947 American musical race film directed by Arthur H. Leonard. The film is notable for musical numbers by vocalists Billy Daniels and

Sheila Guyse Sheila Guyse (born Etta Drucille Guyse; July 14, 1925 – December 28, 2013), was an American singer and actress, performing on stage and screen during the 1940s and 1950s. Early life Sheila Guyse was born on July 14, 1925, in Forest, Mississ ...

, and for a brief guest appearance by former child star

Freddie Bartholomew Frederick Cecil Bartholomew (March 28, 1924 – January 23, 1992), known for his acting work as Freddie Bartholomew, was an English-American child actor. One of the most famous child actors of all time, he became very popular in 1930s Hollywoo ...

, who is onscreen as himself for five minutes, telling gags to recharge his post-war career. It was the film debut of Sidney Poitier, who had an uncredited role.

Plot summary

The musical follows a young woman, Barbara (played by Guyse), in love with a good and kind bandleader, Bob (portrayed by Daniels), who seems oblivious to her love. Barbara helps Bob write a new song, "Cinderella", and it becomes an unexpected hit. Success and sudden fame lead Bob to abandon his former performing venue and lose touch with his friends. He becomes caught in the talons of a devious female club-owner who milks his success and tries to also seduce him, even though she is engaged, unbeknownst to Bob. As his career crumbles and the scales fall from his eyes, Bob's press agent finally finds a way for things to end happily: Bob will make a comeback and in doing so will choose a woman's shoe out of dozens entered, and the winner will sing with him and have her prince. Bob rightly picks Barbara's shoe, and the show goes out on yet another great musical number.

Cast

Soundtrack

*Deek Watson and The Brown Dots - "Long Legged Lizzie" (Words and music by Herman Fairbanks and Deek Watson) *Deek Watson and The Brown Dots - "Is It Right" (Words and music by Deek Watson and William "Pat" Best) *Billy Daniels and Sheila Guyse - "Cinderella" (Words and music by Walter Fuller) *Billy Daniels - "Ring Around My Rosie" (Words and music by Walter Fuller) *Credited in the opening titles, may be used in the background - "Can't Find a Thing to Say" (Words and music by Milt Shaw) *Ruble Blakey - "Oh Ho! It's a Lovely Day" (Words and music by Eric Miller, Ruble Blakey and

Rudy Toombs Rudolph Toombs (1914 – November 28, 1962) was an American performer and songwriter. He wrote " Teardrops from My Eyes", Ruth Brown's first number one R&B song, and other hit songs for her, including "5-10-15 Hours". He also wrote " One Min ...

)

DVD release

''Sepia Cinderella'' was released on

Region 0 DVD region codes are a digital rights management technique introduced in 1997. It is designed to allow rights holders to control the international distribution of a DVD release, including its content, release date, and price, all according to ...

DVD by Alpha Video, as part of a double feature with ''

Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. ''Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.'' is a 1946 race film directed by Spencer Williams and produced and distributed by Sack Amusement Enterprises. This film is in the public domain. Plot Gertie LaRue ( Francine Everett) is a nightclub entertainer ...

'', on July 31, 2007.

References

External links