Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. was a "Race" film-- all-black productions that catered to African-American audiences -- that was an unauthorized adaptation of Somerset Maugham's 1921 short story "Rain." (The story had previously been filmed in 1928 as Sadie Thompson featuring Gloria Swanson, and in 1943, starring Joan Crawford.) It was directed by Spencer Williams (he later played Andy Brown on television's Amos and Andy) for Dallas-based producer Alfred Sack. Dirty Gertie was a commercially successful film on the Race circuit but was not widely seen by white audiences until the 1990s.
Gertie LaRue (Francine Everett) is a nightclub performer from Harlem who goes to the Caribbean island of Rinidad to be the headliner in a revue for a large hotel. She has earned her nickname for the callous way she treats men -- seducing and then humiliating them. Two Americans, a soldier and a sailor (hugh Watson and Shelly Ross), are entranced by her, as is the owner of the hotel, Diamond Joe (Don Wilson). there are also two missionaries (Alfred Hawkins and David Boykin) who are concerned about Gertie. One of Gertie's former lovers (John King) comes to the island and, unable to win her back, kills her. O well.
Also featured in the film are Katherine Moore, L. E. Lewis, Inez Newell, Piano Frank, Don Gilbert, Julie Jones, and Howard Galloway. Spencer Williams also makes a very strange appearance as a female fortune teller, Old Hager, who predicts Gertie's death.
Scripted by True T. Thompson. A recording of the Harold Arlen-Johnny mercer sonf "Blues in the Night" by Dinah Shore was featured.
Francine Everett (1915-1999) was called the most beautiful woman in Harlem and was one of the most beautiful actresses to appear on screen. she was briefly (1936-1939) married to Rex Ingrim, the star of Green Pastures. Hollywood wanted her but insisted she play stereotypical black roles . She refused and retired from acting in the Fifties, working as a clerk until 1985 at Harlem Hospital. I think I could have easily fallen in love with her.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVFJomlm2UI
"After starring in Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A., she had bit parts in two Hollywood films: Lost Boundaries (1949) and Sidney Poitier's first film, No Way Out (1950).[3]" -WIKIPEDIA (at the moment). So, I have seen her in NO WAY OUT, at least, some decades ago. Don't know if she was ever wistful about about her career enough as desegregation Very slowly worked through H'wood. Given everything, probably not.
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