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BROKEN STRINGS-1940-I really love this all black “race film” (a movie made exclusively for black audiences). Sure, it’s cheap and badly acted but it’s no worse than any dozen Monogram films of the time! Clarence Muse stars as famous violinist Arthur Williams who gets “one thousand dollars a performance” but loses his ability to play when his hand is injured in a car accident. He becomes a pretty mean and bitter music teacher especially to his son Johnny (William Washington) who prefers swing to the classics. One of his other students is played by Ex-Our Gang member Stymie Beard (“Just because his father owns a grocery store he puts on airs…”)!
Meanwhile older daughter Grace has man trouble at work. Her boss tries to frame her boyfriend for stealing. Eventually, a world famous “nerve specialist” says he can do an operation for 300 dollars! Johnny and his cute pianist girlfriend Mary (Tommie Moore who was in MYSTERY IN SWING the same year ) play swing at some clubs but dad finds out and makes Johnny practice the violin until he passes out! Finally Johnny plays on a radio program (where Stymie tries to sabotage his set) and dad gets cured through the power of swing! Darby Jones who played the scary lead zombie in I WALK WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) and was usually reduced to playing tribal chiefs and natives has a standout comic role here. Lead actor Clarence Muse is sometimes referred to as the first black American to "star in a film". He usually played sub-serviant stereo-typed roles throughout the 30's and 40's so his role here was quite a departure. He last role was in THE BLACK STALLION in 1978. He died a few days before it opened at age 90!
CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU-1939-This is the first Chan portrayal by Sidney Toler who took over the role after the first series regular Warner Oland died in 1938. The murder mystery takes place mostly on a cargo ship full of circus animals. The story coincides with a sub-plot of the birth of Chan’s first grandchild. The opening scene features Charlie, his wife and their 13 children eating dinner. Victor Sen Young is No. 2 son Jimmy who tries to solve the ship board murder before “Pop” even gets there. He gets some help from No. 5 son Willie (Layne Tom Jr., who’s character should have been in more of the series). George Zucco is at his eerie and eccentric best as Dr. Cardigan, a mysterious scientist with a human brain in his cabin! Phyllis Brooks (who’s also in the later CC in Reno), John “Dusty” King (who later became a Western star for Monogram), Eddie Collins, Claire Dodd and Marc Lawrence also star. Phillip Ahn (who was actually of Korean descent) plays Chan’s nervous son in law. This was the only Chan/Toler film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone who had directed three previous ones with Oland.
ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS-1957-Roger Corman’s notorious ‘50’s science fiction with giant crabs that can talk telepathically after chopping off their victims’ heads. It’s not really up there with his two more serious ‘50’s films (NOT OF THIS EARTH and DAY THE WORLD ENDED) but it’s still fun. Richard Garland (who was in Corman’s THE UNDEAD the same year) is a little wishy washy as the hero but who can’t help but love those crabs! Russell Johnson (the future Professor of GILLIGAN’S ISLAND) is also on hand as well as AIP vets Mel Welles (with a French accent) and Jonathan Haze. Two other Corman regulars Ed Nelson & Beach Dickerson operated the monsters (it’s rumored Jack Nicholson did also). Pamela Duncan (also in THE UNDEAD) is the sole female. Corman directed 8 other movies in 1957! (Which by the way was also a very good year for babies...)
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Posted by CavedogRob on 2007-12-29 01:30:23 | Rating: | Views: 80
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