Once Upon a Time in Harlem

Conceived in 1972 by legendary filmmaker William Greaves and completed 50 years later by his son David, Once Upon a Time in Harlem documents an extraordinary gathering of Harlem Renaissance luminaries for a cocktail party at Duke Ellington’s home. For four hours, this extraordinary group—many of whom had not seen each other in 50 years—reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed, and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. Shot on 16mm film and newly restored, this landmark film is an invaluable document of an era’s artists and intellectuals as they discuss their lives’ work and legacies, illuminating how culture is preserved and passed along from one generation to another.