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TIFF Review: Once Upon a Time in Harlem (William Greaves, David Greaves, 2026)

Posted on
16 Sep 2026
by
Paul

The Harlem Renaissance was an important period in American cultural history, one which saw a burgeoning of African-American art, music, literature, and political thought in the 1920s and 1930s. Once Upon a Time In Harlem gives us a glimpse of some of the luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance in conversation, as they gathered together for a party at Duke Ellington’s house, organized by filmmaker William Greaves.

That party was, of course, captured on film by Greaves, who must have understood the significance of getting all of these cultural figures on record, while they were still around, to wax nostalgic on the old days and discuss the impact of the Harlem Renaissance. Among those gathered at the party: pianist Eubie Blake, writer Arna Bontemps, Richard B. Moore (amazingly billed onscreen as “Bookseller/Prominent Socialist” – what more needs to be said?), and self-proclaimed dilettante Richard Bruce Nugent. And though things start out kind of slow with some casual reminiscing, as the evening goes on, the talk gets more robust as they get into it a bit more, discussing, debating, and reflecting on the cultural shift which was happening at the time.

The footage from that party, taken in the early 1970s, has finally been released as a complete film by Greaves’ son David, and for those interested in hearing it straight from the mouths of those who were there, Once Upon a Time In Harlem is a compelling document of a fascinating moment in time.

PrevPreviousTIFF Review: Turtle Island Rap (Alexandra Lazarowich, 2026)

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