Million Dollar Productions facts for kids
Million Dollar Productions was a movie studio in the United States. It was active from 1937 to 1940. This studio was created to make films with African American actors. It was a partnership between Harry M. Popkin, Leo C. Popkin, and Ralph Cooper.
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Making Movies for African American Audiences
Million Dollar Productions was special because it focused on telling stories with Black actors. At this time, many Hollywood movies did not feature Black actors in leading roles. This studio helped create opportunities for talented Black performers.
The Start of the Studio
Ralph Cooper was a very talented Black actor. People called him "Dark Gable" because he was so popular. He was also a singer, dancer, comedian, and host at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Cooper learned a lot about filmmaking while working for 20th Century Fox.
He first teamed up with George Randol to make a movie called Dark Manhattan in 1937. After this, he joined forces with two brothers, Harry and Leo Popkin. Together, they started Million Dollar Productions. Harry Popkin owned several movie theaters in Los Angeles. One of them was the Million Dollar Theatre, which was popular with Black moviegoers.
Quick and Creative Filmmaking
The studio made many exciting movies. Even though the name was "Million Dollar Productions," each film cost only about $8,000 to $10,000 to make. That's not a lot for a movie! They filmed each movie very quickly, often in just seven days.
Ralph Cooper was a big part of these films. He not only starred in them but also wrote and directed some. He even brought in famous singer and actress Lena Horne to act alongside him.
Changes and New Partnerships
Ralph Cooper left the company in 1939. Some say he was tired of making only gangster films. Others believe he wanted more control over the money and how the movies were shared.
In the same year, Million Dollar Productions joined with Sack Amusement Enterprises. This was another film company that specialized in "race films." These were movies made for and about Black audiences. This merger helped Million Dollar Productions share its movies with even more people.
Many other talented Black stars appeared in these films. These included Nina Mae McKinney, Mantan Moreland, Laurence Criner, and Louise Beavers. The studio stopped making movies when the United States entered World War II.
Documentaries and Short Films
Besides feature films, Million Dollar Productions also made documentaries. A news photographer named Edward Lewis created these. Some of his works included Life in Harlem and a series called Colored America on Parade. He also made The Colored Champions of Sport, which showed Black athletes.
Movies Made by Million Dollar Productions
- Bargain with Bullets (also known as Gangsters on the Loose) (1937)
- Life Goes On (1938)
- The Duke Is Tops (1938)
- Gang Smashers (1938)
- Reform School (1939)
- One Dark Night (1939)
- Straight to Heaven (1939)
- Four Shall Die (1940)
- Gang War (1940)
- While Thousands Cheer (1940)
- Colored Americans in the Nation's Capital (short film, 1942)
