- Call number
- Sc MG 710
- Physical description
- 0.03 linear feet (3 folders)
- Language
- English
- Preferred Citation
- [Item], Sweet Love, Bitter film collection, Sc MG 710, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
Sweet Love, Bitter is an independent movie, written, produced, and directed, in 1967, by Herbert Danska and Lewis Jacobs. The story is based on the novel Night Song, written by John Williams and inspired by the life of jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker. The black and white film starred Dick Gregory as the musician, along with Don Murray, Robert Hooks, and Diana Varsi. This interracial drama dealt with two contemporary American themes, the African American as the creative genius and the African American in American society. In addition, heroin addiction and an interracial love affair were themes addressed in this film. The Sweet Love, Bitter film collection consists of the screenplay entitled Night Song by Herbert Danska and Lewis Jacob (1963); a film proposal by Nat Hentoff, which was distributed to potential investors; Danska's and Jacobs's outline of the movie; and a budget estimate. Additionally, there is an outline of the third and final cut, a location list, five cue cards used by Dick Gregory during filming, and news clippings of advertisements and reviews. Documents relating to the controversy over control and cutting of the film complete this collection.
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Purchase from McBlain Books, 2002.
Processing information
Processed by Janice Quinter, September 2002.
Separated material
Transferred to the Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division: audio material. For more information, please contact the division at schomburgaudiovisual@nypl.org or 212-491-2270.
Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs
Key terms
Names
- Danska, Herbert -- Sweet love, bitter
- Jacobs, Lewis -- Sweet love, bitter
- Parker, Charlie, 1920-1955
- Williams, John A., 1925-2015 -- Night song
Subjects
- African Americans in motion pictures
- Experimental films -- United States
- Independent filmmakers -- United States
- Motion picture plays -- United States
Material types
Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor