This movie reminds me of an episode of Scooby Doo, with Henry Victor playing the part of the spook master, the two bland men-of-action white guys playing the roles of Fred and Daphne, and Mantan Moreland playing the parts of Shaggy and Scooby. (I suppose the role of Velma is split between the white female lead and the black female lead, since they both appear to be waaay smarter than the men.)
Obviously intended as a spooky comedy of sorts, the one good thing you can say about it is that it gives Moreland a chance to do his stuff, and he does so: he basically steals the movie with a wonderfully consistent and energetic performance.
I realize that this sort of role might be painful and jarring for modern "politically correct" viewers to watch, but as a creation of his time and place, Moreland had the stuff. He wouldn't have been out of place on something like the Flip Wilson show in the 60s before people like Richard Pryor and Dick Gregory evolved black acting and comedy to the next step.
The rest of the movie and cast is competent in that early B&W 40's Monogram way - the movie gets the job done, but it's nothing to get excited about.
Obviously intended as a spooky comedy of sorts, the one good thing you can say about it is that it gives Moreland a chance to do his stuff, and he does so: he basically steals the movie with a wonderfully consistent and energetic performance.
I realize that this sort of role might be painful and jarring for modern "politically correct" viewers to watch, but as a creation of his time and place, Moreland had the stuff. He wouldn't have been out of place on something like the Flip Wilson show in the 60s before people like Richard Pryor and Dick Gregory evolved black acting and comedy to the next step.
The rest of the movie and cast is competent in that early B&W 40's Monogram way - the movie gets the job done, but it's nothing to get excited about.