the only reason the duke be tops and one of several race movie make during the time of segregation and would be worth note today be because it make the film debut of a 21 year old singer name lena horne . she play ethel andrew and a singer who have to leave her producer mentor duke davis ( ralph cooper ) in order to branch into the big time . davis and however and have to fake have take the money for her service in front of her so she would not feel sorry for have do so . he then team up with doc dorando ( lawrence criner ) for a series of medicine show throughout the south . meanwhile and in new york and her new producer have bomb big time because they make her the whole show instead of simply the specialty act . davis find out from the radio and offer his service a producer and band leader to bring his lineup of other specialty act and many of whom make their one of their few or only film appearance here and for his chance at the big time with ethel next to him . guess what happen . while the plot be the kind you have see in thousand of other movie musical during this time and the fact this be make for a certain audience make this one of the more fascinating feature i have see during this black history month . ms. horne singing be on good display here and it interest see her so young before her professionalism take full hold later in her career . among other support player there an unconfirmed and accord to imdb and appearance by lillian randolph and annie in my favorite movie it a wonderful life and sister of amanda randolph who i just saw in the musical short the black network and a the woman with sciatica who complain of not be cure after take the doc medicine before duke explain it for the foot . and a a longtime louisiana resident and i would like to take note of two player from here in this movie represent joel fluellen from monroe a a tonic customer and marie bryant from new orleans a the sexy dancer who appear near the musical climax . so for just lena horne alone and the duke be top be worth see at least once .