William Greaves filmed it in 1972 and never finished it. Now “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” reaches theaters, and the Oscar contender is gaining momentum after collecting five Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations Tuesday.
NEON releases the film Friday in New York and October 23 in Los Angeles. It captures a four-hour gathering at Duke Ellington’s Harlem home, where surviving figures of the Harlem Renaissance reunited, among them Richard Bruce Nugent, Aaron Douglas, Arna Bontemps and James Van Der Zee. Two librarians at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture helped Greaves assemble the guests.
David Greaves, William’s son and one of the original cameramen, directed the finished version. His daughter Liani produced it with Anne de Mare. The pair joined Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to describe shaping the film from almost 30 hours of raw footage. David said his father wanted “a theatrical experience that moves at a snappy pace.”
Liani explained why George Schuyler, known for his contrarian politics, stirred strong feelings among some guests. The Greaveses also stressed the role of women in the Harlem Renaissance, which they say history often overlooks. Co-host John Ridley said he identified with remarks from Nugent.
The path to the screen ran half a century. Greaves, who made over 70 films, considered this his greatest work. He first planned to blend the party footage with still photographs, but the two materials fit unevenly, and the project stalled. His widow, Louise, kept working on it until her death in 2023. David and Liani then took over, and restoration of the 16mm film, over 60,000 feet in total, began in 2021.
Critics have responded warmly. One review cited by the Criterion Collection says the guests’ arguments “reach a simmer but never boil over.” The film premiered at Sundance in January and later screened in the New York Film Festival’s main slate.
The family does not plan to stop with the feature. Liani has said they are building a public archive where audiences can watch and hear the rest of the interviews.
