Two mobs fight for control of the jukebox racket.Two mobs fight for control of the jukebox racket.Two mobs fight for control of the jukebox racket.
Photos
Reginald Fenderson
- Danny - Meade's Chief Henchman
- (as Reggie Fenderson)
Laurence Criner
- Lew Baron
- (as Lawrence Criner)
Jess Lee Brooks
- Lt. Holmes
- (as Jesse Brooks)
Maceo Bruce Sheffield
- Bull Brown
- (as Maceo Sheffield)
Marie Bryant
- Dance Specialty
- (uncredited)
Willie Covan
- Dance Specialty
- (uncredited)
Louise Franklin
- Phil's Girl
- (uncredited)
Halley Harding
- Baron Henchman
- (uncredited)
Ray Martin
- Man in Bar
- (uncredited)
Ernest Morrison
- Gang Member
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Holiday (1938)
- SoundtracksRemember the Night
Written by Lew Porter (as Lou Porter) and Johnny Lange
Sung by Gladys Snyder with piano accompaniment
Featured review
Interesting "Race" Movie
One of the possibly lesser known aspects of early to mid-20th century racism is "race" movies - movies made by African Americans largely for African-American audiences. I can't imagine what it would have been like when this was released in 1940 - about a month after Hattie McDaniel won her Oscar for "Gone With the Wind". For many people, this might have been their first, if not only, view of city life.
Although there probably wasn't much of a budget, this actually seems to make the most of what they to work with. It's a pretty good gangster movie. It's a chance to see life in Harlem just prior to WWII, and quite probably, one of the few chances to see these entertainers on film.
This is the story of an ambitious gangster who fights his way towards the top of the Harlem underworld who takes over, what appears to have been a lucrative business in jukeboxes. This isn't as violent as some of the Warner Brothers pre-code gangster movies (i.e., "The Public Enemy" or "Scarface"), but is fairly fast-paced and well worth watching. I'm glad TCM showed this rare gem.
Although there probably wasn't much of a budget, this actually seems to make the most of what they to work with. It's a pretty good gangster movie. It's a chance to see life in Harlem just prior to WWII, and quite probably, one of the few chances to see these entertainers on film.
This is the story of an ambitious gangster who fights his way towards the top of the Harlem underworld who takes over, what appears to have been a lucrative business in jukeboxes. This isn't as violent as some of the Warner Brothers pre-code gangster movies (i.e., "The Public Enemy" or "Scarface"), but is fairly fast-paced and well worth watching. I'm glad TCM showed this rare gem.
helpful•31
- jtyroler
- May 19, 2008
Details
- Runtime1 hour 3 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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