Nina Mae McKinney

Actor · 1912 – 1967 · Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

Nina Mae McKinney (June 12, 1912 – May 3, 1967) was an American actress who worked internationally during the 1930s and in the postwar period in theatre, film and television, after beginning her career on Broadway and in Hollywood. Dubbed "The Black Garbo" in Europe because of her striking beauty, McKinney was both one of the first African-American film stars in the United States and one of the first African-Americans to appear on British television.

Movies23

Movie7.1
Drama
Pinky, a light skinned black woman, returns to her grandmother's house in the South after graduating from a Northern nursing school. Pinky tells her grandmother that she has been "passing" for white while at school in the North. In addition, she has fallen in love with a young white doctor, who knows nothing about her black heritage.
Pinky
1949 · 52 votes
Movie6.6
MusicDrama
A black laborer turns preacher after accidentally killing a man.
Hallelujah
1929 · 40 votes
Movie5.1
MusicDrama
A theatrical star, born on the wrong side of the tracks, marries a drunken blue-blood millionaire.
Reckless
1935 · 14 votes
Movie5.6
AdventureDrama
A British District Officer in Nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly. He struggles with gun-runners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief.
Sanders of the River
1935 · 13 votes
Movie6.7
ThrillerDrama
To avoid the rigors of the law, Gilda flees New Orleans and hides on a Caribbean island where the worst criminals can ask for asylum. Besieged by the scum of the earth, Gilda will soon find out that she has found refuge in hell.
Safe in Hell
1931 · 47 votes
Movie5.7
Western
A group of copper miners, Southern veterans, are terrorized by local rebel-haters, led by deputy Lane Travis. The miners ask stage sharpshooter Johnny Carter to help them, under the impression that he is the legendary Colonel Desmond. It seems they're wrong; but Johnny's show comes to Coppertown and Johnny romances lovely gambler Lisa Roselle, whom the miners believe is at the center of their troubles.
Copper Canyon
1950 · 24 votes
Movie5.9
CrimeMystery
A woman uses a deck of cards to predict death within 24 hours for a stranger sitting at a bar, then tries to help him remember who he is based on items in his pockets.
The Power of the Whistler
1945 · 19 votes
Movie9.0
ActionMusic
A mountain community is thrown into turmoil as the townspeople debate the advantages and disadvantages of having a railroad.
Night Train to Memphis
1946 · 1 votes
Movie5.5
ComedyRomance
Anne Crandall is the mayor of a small town in Vermont. Her deceased husband had been the mayor for years and when he died, she was left to carry on and to raise his daughter from his first marriage. She lives with the daughter, her father-in-law and a housekeeper. In the town square, there was a statue of her late husband and every year since his death, they have an anniversary celebration there. This year during a thunderstorm, the statue is hit by lightning and the head falls off. The daughter insists that a new statue be erected instead of patching the old one. Mayor Crandall is sent to New York to interview the prospective sculptor, George Corday.
Together Again
1944 · 12 votes
Movie4.8
MusicDrama
Jack and Jerry are doing okay between profession baseball and Vaudeville. That is, until love and gold-diggers get in the way.
They Learned About Women
1930 · 5 votes
Movie6.0
CrimeMystery
Leslie Calvin, the sole survivor of a submarine accident, goes to her relatives in order to recover emotionally. Unfortunately, she encounters various scam artists led by Mr. Sydney who intend to kill her and steal the family assets. Dr. George Grover helps Leslie to defeat Sydney.
Dark Waters
1944 · 25 votes
Movie7.1
Crime
The title refers to the business of affable, ambitious bail bondsman (and politically-connected grifter) Bill Bailey, who, in the course of his work, crosses paths with every kind of offender there is, from first-time defendants to career criminals.
Blood Money
1933 · 9 votes
Movie6.5
ComedyCrime
Magazine owners sell a revealing photo, then play detective when the deal leads to murder.
Danger Street
1947 · 2 votes
Movie4.8
Western
Though he fought for the North in the Civil War, John is asked by the Governor of Texas to get rid of some troublesome carpetbaggers. He enlists the help of Holden before learning that Holden too is plundering the local folk.
The Lonely Trail
1936 · 12 votes
Movie3.9
HorrorDrama
Sylvia Walton returns from Harlem to take over a Jamaican plantation from her vindictive half-sister, amid the growing sound of drums.
The Devil's Daughter
1939 · 7 votes
Movie8.0
ComedyMusic
Mantan takes a job as office boy at a new TV station and gets to watch several pre-recorded musical numbers.
Mantan Messes Up
1946 · 1 votes
Movie7.3
Music
Short featuring musician Eubie Blake and his orchestra, singer Nina Mae McKinney, and young tap dancers Fayard and Harold Nicholas.
Pie, Pie Blackbird
1932 · 3 votes
Movie10.0
'Old-time minstrel sinks to poverty and rises to fresh stardom.' (British Film Catalogue)
Kentucky Minstrels
1934 · 1 votes
Movie7.7
In rhyme, a soapbox preacher, Mr. Blue Laws, enlists Mr. Public Opinion in the efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Jazz. Armed with an ax and a buckshot-shooting pistol, the two of them interrupt Ted Fiorito and his jazz orchestra (and showgirls). The lads head for the woods, where Ted convinces them to stand their ground. They're joined by their songstress who says it may be their last day on earth, so sing the blues for all they're worth. Then the dancers arrive to report they barely got away, and it's time for a final strut. Public Opinion brings a death sentence. Is there no appeal?
What Price Jazz
1934 · 3 votes
Movie9.0
CrimeMusic
An undercover police woman poses as a nighclub entertainer to catch the main man behind the racketeers going on around Harlem. Meanwhile two men are falling for her.
Gang Smashers
1938 · 1 votes
Movie4.0
Music
An homage to NYC in the form of a short travelogue.
Manhattan Serenade
1929 · 1 votes
Movie6.4
Music
The owner of a shoe polish company sponsors a radio show that showcases black performers. Since his wife's father put up the money to be the sponsor, she insists on singing on the show. She goes on after the main star, singer Nina Mae McKinney. The wife sings so badly that the sponsor's customers abandon him. He is forced to shine shoes on street corners, while Nina Mae and her boyfriend win a bet on a daily number and end up on easy street.
The Black Network
1936 · 5 votes
Movie7.0
ComedyMusic
A Bevy of Beauties and a Boatload of Fun
Swanee Showboat
1947 · 1 votes