Hallelujah

Released Aug 20, 1929

1h 46m

Musical

List

86%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Zeke Johnson (Daniel L. Haynes) and his brother, Spunk (Everett McGarrity), sell their family's crops for $100. When Zeke manages to lose the money gambling, due to his shifty girlfriend, Chick (Nina Mae McKinney), a fight ensues in which Spunk is killed. This causes Zeke to leave and seek a religious life. Years later, he returns to his hometown as a preacher, bringing his fiancée, Missy Rose (Victoria Spivey). However, Chick is still interested and knows how to manipulate him.

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

Vidor's skill as a picturemaker is enough alone to make Hallelujah one of the best films of the year.

Sep 12, 2019

Full Review

Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

A most impressive audible film.

Sep 12, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Vidor's strict adherence to realism is so effective at times it is stark and uncanny.

Feb 23, 2012

Full Review

André Bazin

L'Obs (France)

Great cinematographic events like Hallelujah are thus always the fruit of great sociological events. Indeed, this film is an eternal testament that transcends both its author-director and the history of cinema itself.

Dec 8, 2021

Full Review

D. Winter Hall

New Zealand Herald

Hallelujah should be seen for the cast alone.

Feb 10, 2021

Full Review

Ralph Matthews

Baltimore Afro-American

Surely no dissenting voice could be raised against the singing.

Jul 15, 2020

Full Review

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Twat

One of the best films to come out of 1929. Also the first sound film with an all-black cast; pretty cool.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

Louisa E

The acting was pretty good but I felt like the story lacked oomph. I loved the religious aspect but maybe it was a little overplayed. Unfortunately, I felt it lacked good cinematography and setting. What I loved about this movie was the soundtrack. The singing was sensational and beautiful and timeless. Watch this movie for the soundtrack and some great performances from some underrated actors. If there was an Oscar for film score at the time, I think this should have won.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Groundbreaking at the time it was made

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

King Vidor always wanted to make an all black feature. This was his chance. Zeke, a poor cotton farmer falls for Chick who's a honky tonk girl. After his younger brother gets killed, Zeke repents and becomes a preacher. Chick sees Zeke perform and initially makes fun of him but when she feels alone while the rest of the congregation follows him, she also repents. Zeke falls for Chick.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Amazing movie one of my favorites

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/22

Full Review

david l

Hallelujah is a highly important movie in Hollywood's history for dealing with an all-black perspective and cast. Certainly it may be viewed as stereotypical today, but it was groundbreaking back then and thus it needs to be appreciated more. As for the movie itself, it features an overly melodramatic, even soapy storyline, but the score is terrific, the sound is incredibly polished for its time and King Vidor's stellar direction was deservedly Oscar-nominated.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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King Vidor

Director

Daniel L. Haynes

Zekial 'Zeke' Johnson

Nina Mae McKinney

Chick

William Fountaine

Hot Shot

Harry Gray

Pappy 'Parson' Johnson

Fannie Belle DeKnight

Mammy Johnson

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Synopsis

Zeke Johnson (Daniel L. Haynes) and his brother, Spunk (Everett McGarrity), sell their family's crops for $100. When Zeke manages to lose the money gambling, due to his shifty girlfriend, Chick (Nina Mae McKinney), a fight ensues in which Spunk is killed. This causes Zeke to leave and seek a religious life. Years later, he returns to his hometown as a preacher, bringing his fiancée, Missy Rose (Victoria Spivey). However, Chick is still interested and knows how to manipulate him.

Director: King Vidor
Screenwriter: King Vidor, Wanda Tuchock, Ransom Rideout, Richard Schayer
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 20, 1929, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Mono

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