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Hallelujah

Play trailer Poster for Hallelujah Released Aug 20, 1929 1h 46m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
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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Hallelujah

Critics Reviews

View All (14) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 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 Audience Member Great movie amazing movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/05/21 Full Review Audience Member Perhaps a little shaky in the narrative department, but the acting and music are some of my all-time favorites. Tyler Perry should take note on how to make a respectable black drama. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hallelujah

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Cast & Crew

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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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Hallelujah

Hallelujah (1929) Hallelujah (1929) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Producer
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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