Imagine being invited to a gathering of the artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers who helped shape the Harlem Renaissance—and having a seat at the table. Once Upon a Time in Harlem offers just that opportunity, bringing audiences inside an extraordinary 1972 reunion at Duke Ellington’s Harlem townhouse. Captured by pioneering filmmaker William Greaves and completed decades later by his son, David, the newly restored 16mm footage reveals an intimate, lively, and often spirited conversation among a generation of cultural trailblazers, many of whom had not seen one another in fifty years. Featuring painter Aaron Douglas, artist Romare Bearden, photographer James Van Der Zee, composer Eubie Blake, poet Arna Bontemps, and many others, the film is a remarkable time capsule of artistic achievement, creative exchange, and the enduring legacy of one of the most influential cultural movements in American history.
Film Length: 1 hour 40 minutes.
SVMoA’s ART ON FILM film series takes place at Merlin's Magic Lantern in Ketchum on the first Wednesday of every month at 5pm.
