Chase_Witherspoon Comedy mystery with an all-black cast (not pertaining to rugby), with the daughter of a wealthy landowner (Redd) being wooed by the charismatic but suspicious circus mentalist and apparent sub-continent royal heir (Criner), before her father is murdered and deeds to an oil-rich plot of land stolen during the night. Two bumbling detectives join forces with the police to catch the killer whom they believe will attempt to cash-in the stolen land deed, employing their unique brand of detective skills to solve the mystery and claim the kudos.Swiftly told tale suffers for its amateurish acting (many times do the cast appear to lose character and look off-stage for direction), but also a curiously erratic narrative that never settles whether it's comedy or mystery. Perhaps it's both, and if so, it's a period piece in which the only recognisable face (to me) was Ruby Daindridge in a minor supporting role playing the mother of a bookish novice detective (Bates) who looks and behaves like the Chris Rock of his era.Classified as a "race" film, it might be worth seeking if you're a film historian, but there's little else to recommend it to mainstream audiences, with a poorly conceived plot, some truly abominable acting and at times, painfully laboured dialogue.

kidboots This isn't as bad a film as some of the reviewers imply. "Race" movie productions had budgets that made Monogram look like MGM. Considering many of the players weren't professional actors - half the cast of "Midnight Shadow" only appeared in one or two movies at the most and those that did appear in more main stream movies, were mostly in uncredited, demeaning roles. Many of the cast seemed to handle their roles in a natural manner (ie Ollie Ann Robinson and Jess Lee Brooks) although a couple looked like a deer caught in the headlights (Frances Redd, who was a model and not an actress anyway.) There was no need for a musical interlude in this film as it was just a regular "who done it" and moved along briskly. These films were made for black audiences and tried to depict stories about everyday situations (not always about witch doctors and voodoo etc).When a well respected business man turns up dead, suspicion falls on his daughter's two suitors. They happen to be in the house when Margaret's father brings out his oil well deeds and both act suspiciously. The first suitor calls himself "The Great Prince Alihabad" and impresses Margaret's mother (Ollie Ann Robinson) as being shifty. The second is Buster (Edward Brandon) who has a very "hang dog" expression - Margaret (Frances Redd) is very fickle and is giving him the run around. In the synopsis that accompanied this DVD it said "Margaret decides to track down the killer herself with the aid of two bumbling private eyes". That is completely false. Margaret wasn't in it much to begin with and almost disappeared during the last half of the movie. The bumbling private eyes were in it however. Lightfoot and Junior Lingley (who is allowed to help out at his mother's (Ruby Dandridge) insistence). There was a funny exchange between them - "I let you get the dope on this case" "I didn't know it was a dope case" "Not that type of dope"!!! They do crack the case at the end - it is not who anyone would think!!! and they do have some interesting scenes with Sgt. Ramsey (an outstanding Jess Lee Brooks) at the end.These films were important. At a time when most white audiences thought Stepin Fetchit was a very real portrait of the Afro American character, "race" movies attempted to show black people as they really were.

msladysoul The only thing that keeps this movie watchable is the handsome Edward Brandon who played Buster Barnett. Edward Brandon isn't the star of this movie or anything, his scenes are few but steals every scene he's in and basically steals the movie. Edward was a fine actor, he only appeared in one other film "Harlem on the Prairie" and that seems to be lost. I'm surprised nothing came of Edward Brandon, I've seen a lot of Black actors and a lot of "black cast films" but Edward stands out, I haven't seen many have such a strong screen presence and talent. I wish he could of did more films. Edward plays Buster, a soft, push-around kind of man, who's girl is leaving him for manly Prince, Buster spies on them and then becomes a suspect in the murder of his girlfriend's father. The scene that Edward Brandon steals the movie is when the Detective drills him, Buster breaks down and pleads for his life, you've never seen much great acting and emotion in a black cast film, and you never seen men have as much emotion in Hollywood. Edward becomes a stronger man by the end of the film. Edward Brandon to me is a very fine actor, his emotions, gestures, good timing, becoming his character full fledged, knowing the right mood makes him exceptionally the best. He did more in his few scenes than the stars. I'm surprised no one discovered him or made him more of a bigger star. It's obvious he learned acting from somewhere but Black Cinema was so few and between for black actors especially but I am grateful for what he did do. Would love to know more about this actor. If it wasn't for Hollywood's ignorance and the world's, Edward could of been a big success in Hollywood, he could of been up there with one of the greatest actors and one of the most handsome. Why not? But, if your not homely and uncle tomish you can't succeed in Hollywood in those days. I haven't seen an Hollywood film yet that an actor showed such emotion and moved me, and make my jaw-drop like Edward. Did I mention Edward Brandon was handsome and a melting heart smile? Frances Redd is pretty and graceful. Buck Woods and Richard Bates are good as a comedy team. Jess Lee Brooks is great as always as Detective Ramsey. Ollie Ann Robinson and Clinton Rosemond are good as the parents. George Randol wrote and directed this movie, he was a pioneer in Black Cinema involved with some great movies. I admit there should of been some nightclub scene or music, Black Cinema never goes wrong there. It took me a few times to watch this movie, now that I understand it more I like it. Most Black Cinema movies didn't have a lot to work with but they did good with the little they had. This isn't the best but watchable if you want to see unsung talents.

Schlockmeister Another film from Sack Amusement Company, a distribution company that dealt with the black movie theatre circuit in the 30s and 40s.A very forgettable mystery that had to have served as a B Movie, supporting a bigger name movie. The acting is generally of the obviously memorized and recited lines variety. By the time the mystery is solved most of the audience won't care, as the mystery has little suspense, the "comedy" falls flat and the ending is so lackluster. A few notes on this one though. This kind of trivia is what maakes these movies interesting to me beyond the plots. John Criner, the man who played Prince Alihabad had a similar role as a travelling show Doctor in "The Duke Is Tops', he played Doctor Dorando there and it is a better showcase for his talent. Ruby Dandridge, who played Mrs. Lingley, was the mother of Dorothy Dandridge. This movie has the look of a mystery series, had "Lingley and Lightfoot" made a better movie, there may have been more. But Junior Lingley was little more than a bumbler mincing about, and Lightfoot's acting seemed to be majorly the wide-eyed scared black man role. These "race" movies had such low budgets that it is amazing they did as much as they did with what they had to work with. There are other better movies out there in the genre, if this is the first movie you see of this type, don't be discouraged, there are more out there of far better quality.