Keep Punching (1939)

Starring:

• Henry Armstrong 
• Willie Bryant 
• Mae E. Johnson
• Hamtree Harrington 
• Canada Lee 
• Lionel Monagas 
• Francine Everett 
• Dooley Wilson

Storyline
Henry Jackson, known as Little Dynamite, is a Golden Gloves champion, who agrees to turn professional when approached by fight manager Ed Watson, despite the opposition raised by his father and Fanny Singleton, his sweetheart. Soon, Jackson is ready to fight for the championship, when he runs into Frank Harrison, an old school friend. Harrison is not the faithful friend that Jackson believes him to be as he is betting heavily that the heavily-favored Jackson will lose the bout. To ensure he does, Harrison introduces Jackson to a hot mama, Jerry Jordan, who is instructed to make him drink, stay out late and generally mess him up by whatever means. The day of the fight, Harrison orders Jerry to slip Jackson a sleeping potion just before he leaves for the fight. Jerry, now in love with Jackson, finally agrees after Harrison threatens her. A few hours before the fight, Jackson, Windy, a Harlem hanger-on, Harrison and Jerry are in Harrison's apartment when Jerry proposes a toast to Jordan. When he is not looking, she slips the sleeping potion into his glass. Windy sees her and switches glasses with Jackson. Jerry, ringside at the fight, sees the boy she loves getting a bad beating.Sobbing wildly, she leaves the arena and runs to a near-by church, where she drops on her knees and prays to God to forgive her and to let Henry win.

Reform School [a.k.a. Prison Bait] (1939, Re-released in 1944, Lost Film)

Starring:

• Louise Beavers 
• Reginald Fenderson 
• Monte Hawley

Storyline
Reform School (1939) was re-released as Prison Bait (1944). The picture deals with the brutal manner in which petty offenders are disciplined in reform school for juveniles, and with the campaign waged by a woman probation officer to substitute kindness and education. A parole violator is sentenced to reform school and while there becomes the victim of the superintendent and guard's cruelties. Later, his case is brought to the attention of the probation officer. Through her efforts the superintendent is removed and more humane and progressive discipline methods are implemented. Later, the guard steals and plants evidence that cast suspicion on the boy. The boy and his pals, however, take matters into their own hands. Breaking confinement, they round up the guard and force him to confess.

Paradise in Harlem (1939)

Starring:

• Frank H. Wilson
• Mamie Smith 
• Norman Astwood
• Edna Mae Harris 
• Merritt Smith 
• Francine Everett
• Sidney Easton 
• Babe Matthews 
• Lionel Monagas 
• Madeline Belt 
• Herman Green
• Percy Verwayen 
• George Williams 
• Alec Lovejoy 
• Lucky Millinder 
• Juanita Hall

Storyline
Between swing and blues musical numbers, the story of comedian Lem Anderson, whose long-awaited chance to act dramatically vanishes when he witnesses a mob killing and is forced to leave town. Lem becomes a wanderer, then an alcoholic. Finally a chance to play Othello draws him back to Harlem. Is it too late for Ned? Or too soon to suit Rough Jackson's mobsters? Melodramatic events lead to an unusual conclusion.