Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
*Harlem Nights* marks the only film written, directed, produced by and starring Eddie Murphy. Set in 1930s Harlem, the film imagines a world of Black nightlife, entrepreneurship and survival amid gangsters and corrupt cops. Anchored by a jazzy score blending big band and Duke Ellington standards, the film unites three generations of Black comedy — Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor and Murphy — alongside an overflowing ensemble cast. Often misunderstood on release, *Harlem Nights* stands as a bold assertion of authorship and creative control, envisioning Black autonomy over space, style and destiny.—*guest programmer Artel Great* Director/Screenwriter: Eddie Murphy. With: Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Jasmine Guy, Della Reese.