Reviews

This is a tragic story of would be immigrants from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The ship's crew floods the holding tank in order to get rid of the evidence, in this case, human cargo who are attempting to enter Puerto Rico and then the United States without legal documentation. Half of the victims die when the encased area is flooded with water and the other half are rescued by the Dominican Republic customs agents. In the end you see actual film footage of a true event and you see a ladder placed along another ship with would be immigrants slipping on board to stow away. 50,000 of more Dominicans have lost their lives trying to cross the shark invested waters between their poor nation and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Unlike the Cuban refugees, these refugees are seldom given sanctuary. This film is a must see for those who care what happens to those poor people seeking a better life for their families.

GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS! An angry Philippine nationalist stops the planned rebellion against United States forces during the American occupation in 1902, after seeing the Americans helping his people with food and medicine. Written and directed by Eddie Romero. It is 80 minutes long and is in color. Stars John Agar, Richard Arlen, and Myron Healey. This was a joint U.S. and Philippine production shot entirely in the Philippines. John Agar is outstanding in this film. Respectfully yours, Sarge Booker

GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS! "Swing High," (1930) is about a circus aerialist who fights to keep her lover out of the hands of a scheming woman. It stars Chester Conklin, Stepin Fetchit, Helen Twelvetrees, and Ben Turpin. However, it is Stepin Fetchit who breathes life into this musical. Stepin Fetchit was born Lincoln Theodore Monroe Albert Perry in Key West, Florida sometime between 1892 and 1902; the son of a cigar maker. He left home in 1914 to pursue a show business career, joining the Royal American Shows plantation revues. Years later he is said to have taken his stage name from a Baltimore racehorse that had inspired him to write a routine for himself and his stage partner of the time, Ed Lee. They billed themselves as "Step 'n' Fetchit: Two Dancing Fools from Dixie." After splitting with his partner, Fetchit kept the name for himself as he spent long, arduous years in the vaudeville circuit. He provided comic relief in many films during the Depression years. Respectfully yours, Sarge Booker

Greetings & Salutations! Who can ever forget that great African-American actor and comedian, Mantan Moreland? The world was blessed on September 3rd, 1902, when Mantan Moreland was born in Monroe, Louisiana and the world was saddened at our loss when he died September 28, 1973 in Hollywood, California, where he appeared in 134 movies as well his memorable guest appearances on the Bill Cosby Show in 1969 or on "Love, American Style" in 1969, or on the police drama "Adam-12" in 1968. He also was in "Harlem On the Prairie" with Herb Jefferies in 1937 and appeared in a number of Westerns such as "Riders of the Frontier" in 1939 as Chappie, the cook (also known as "Ridin' the Frontier.") There shant ever be another Mantan Moreland with his portly frame and popeyed look, hopefully all of the movies he appeared in will be on VHS and DVD for future generations to watch and enjoy over and over.

Greetings & Salutations! Who can forget Mantan Moreland as Bill Blake the cook in this and other cowboy movies with African-America's answer to Randolph Scott and William S. Hart cowboy actors. Mantan went on to star in 133 other films and made special guest appearances on television before his death on September 28th, 1973 at age 71 years. He starred in "One Dark Night" (1939), also known as "Night Club Girl." Also in "What a Guy" in 1939. He stayed very busy for most of his 40 years in front of the camera and can still be seen in so many classics. If anyone ever deserved a Life Time Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it has to be Mantan Moreland!

Greetings & Salutations! Mantan Moreland (1902-1973) certainly saved this motion picture and for that alone deserves his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but, wait, he also saved most of the 134 films in the 40 years of working in front of the camera! In 1941 he appeared in "Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery," "Sign of the Wolf," "King of the Zombies," and sixteen more films that year. No doubt it is understandable why his films on VHS and DVD are so sought after!

Greetings & Salutations! Mantan Moreland (1902-1973), native of Monroe, Louisiana, really made a difference in the 134 movies he appeared in in a 40 span, worthy of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Up there with Hattie McDaniel, Bo Jangles, Stepin Fetchet, Spencer Williams, Tim Moore, Ernestine Wade, and so many other great African-American actors and actresses. Just with his wide eyed look he could bring down the entire audience or when he feigned fear in horror/drama films like "Feathered Serpent" (1948), "The Spider" (1945), "The Shanghai Cobra" (1945), and "Phantom Killer" (1942). I collect African-American films on VHS format and treasure mostly Mantan's films. These movies are really timeless and always evoke laughter and are worth collecting!

Greetings & Salutations! While we see the story of the great African-American legend, we are provided really side splitting comedy relief by Mantan Moreland (1902-1973), also an African-American legend in himself. Who can forget Mantan in "Next Time I Marry" (1938), also known as "Trailer Romance," as well as in "Tell No Tales" (1939), or in "There's That Woman Again" (1939). Or in "Irish Luck", also known as "Amateur Detective" in 1939. This years marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mantan Moreland, in Monroe, Louisiana on September 3rd, 1902, perhaps a long awaited star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is due?

Greetings & Salutations! Mantan Moreland (1902-1973) certainly was the equal to cowboy sidekicks Fuzzy Knight and Gabby Hayes and probably featured in more movies than either man, some 134 all total in 40 years of entertaining America, especially in their darkest hours in World War Two when there was little to smile about. He thrilled us in 1940 in "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk," "Chasing Trouble,' Millionaire Playboy," also known as "Glamour Boy," and in "The Girl in Room 313." He certainly should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as he ranks right up there with all the great stars of Hollywood!

Greetings & Salutations! That great African-American actor and comedian Mantan Moreland (1902-1973) certainly added the best comedy relief to this film, am sure the other cast members were quite aware of his presence on the set. He graced no less than 134 films in a 40 year span, that would be quite an accomplishment for any actor or actress, but it is even more astounding because he as an African-American made it in the America of the early to mid-20th century. He certainly should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Greetings & Salutations! Who can ever forget the 6'7" African-American cowboy actor and singer, Herb Jeffries alongside 5'2" actor and comedian, Mantan Moreland who plays a cook in "Harlem Rides the Range," "Harlem On the Prairie," "The Bronze Buckeroo," and "Two Gun Man from Harlem," along with Spencer Williams, Junior? Herb knew that there needed to be black heroes for African-American youth as it was a fact historically that there were many black cowboys in the old American West, so he created a cowboy character in the mold of Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers, Hoot Gibson, Ken Maynard, Spade Cooley, and others. While Herb made four all-black cast and directed movies, Mantan was in "Frontier Scout" (1938), "Viva Cisco Kid" (1940), "Drums of the Desert" (1940), "Mystery of the Riverboat" (1944), and many others. Both Herb and Mantan deserve stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!