Return of Mandy's Husband (1947) [Lost Film]

The News Journal
Wilmington, Delaware
Tue, Jul 22, 1947 · Page 19

The Evergreen Courant
Evergreen, Alabama
Thu, Jul 17, 1947 · Page 8

Greenville Advocate
Greenville, Alabama
Thu, May 22, 1947 · Page 5

The Atlanta Constitution
Atlanta, Georgia
Sat, Apr 17, 1948 · Page 6

The Decatur Daily
Decatur, Alabama
Sun, Aug 06, 1950 · Page 5

The LaFayette Sun
LaFayette, Alabama
Wed, Jun 24, 1953 · Page 12

The Florala News
Florala, Alabama
Thu, Jul 16, 1959 · Page 4

The Palm Beach Post
West Palm Beach, Florida
Thu, Dec 15, 1960 · Page 27

Starring:

• Mantan Moreland
• F.E. Miller
• Johnny Lee
• Estelle Hemsley
• McKinley Reeves
• Terry Knight

Storyline
In order to make some cash, buddies Mantan and Alex found the “Ghost Association,” which will hold mock seances for the local residents. After studying the details of the locals’ various deceased relatives, Alex insist that the reluctant Manta, who is afraid of ghost, play “Prince Alabastar Amsterdam” and fool people into thinking that he is in communication with their dead loved ones.

Meanwhile, Henry Coffee, local resident Mandy’s husband, has staged his own disappearance because he can no longer tolerate his wife’s nagging. He takes refuge at Morgan’s place, and old barn, where he encounters a band of thugs who take him hostage. Soon after, Alex and Mantan, who have chosen the Morgan place for their first Ghost Association séance, show up at the old barn where the gangsters are planning their getaway. Inside, the timorous Mantan, who senses the presence of the gangsters, believe that the barn is haunted, especially after one of the gangsters knocks Alex out and hides him, leaving Mantan alone. Eventually the police come, have a shoot-out, and then haul the gangsters away, giving Alex, who say that Prince Alabaster heroically caught the gangsters, a good publicity story for his enterprise.

Later, Mandy and her friend, Miss Sarah, discuss with Mantan and Alex the upcoming séance, and, because he realizes that he knows nothing about Miss Sarah’s late husband, Mantan warns her that the man may have changed since his death. At the old barn, the audience arrives and Alex tells Mantan, who will impersonate the voices of the dearly departed, to hide in a stall. Mantan is terrified, however, because he thinks he hears a real ghost, unaware that Henry Coffee, who is still hiding in the barn’s loft. When Mandy ask “Alabastar” to conjure her husband Henry, the latter overhears and believes he’s been discovered, but when a distraught Mandy, hearing her husband’s voice, says she would never mistreat him again if he came back, he cries “You won, Honey.” The weak floor-boards of the loft break and Henry crashes down from the heaven to reunite with his wife.

*** This film is considered lost until notified otherwise. ***

Ebony Parade (1947) [Lost Film]

"Ebony Parade" (1947) is a lost musical variety Race film featuring top entertainers from the 1940s, including headliners Cab Calloway and Count Basie. Musical variety films were typical during this period as production companies took advantage of Race film's popularity among Black moviegoers. In addition, musical shorts, also known as "soundies," were standard productions showcasing talented artists from across the nation. Many production companies, such as RCM, released several soundies during the 40s. As a result, Astro Pictures acquired the rights for re-releases of these films and pieced them together as one full-length movie.

The structure of these musical variety films consisted of a master of ceremony (MC) to host the show, and Mantan Mooreland was the host in this movie. First, the MC would do an introduction to the production, and depending on the host, they would also act as comic relief. Subsequently, the MC would announce the upcoming act, where the film would cut to a soundie where performance would ensure. Once the soundie finishes, the film cuts back to the MC, and this pattern continues throughout the film. Also, a fake audience adds to the illusion of this being a live-recorded show.

Calloway and his band perform their novelty tune "The Skunk Song," while Basie and his crew add their flavor with "Air Mail Special." In addition, the Mills Brothers perform their famous rendition of "Paper Doll," which also features the graceful and agile Dorothy Dandridge dancing her interpretation of the number. Furthermore, the film also features Atlanta, Georgia native Mable Lee, which some consider the 2nd Florence Mills. Miss Lee was a beautiful and incredible talent who starred in several soundies and films in the 40s. Lastly, other acts from Ruby Hill, Francine Everette, Cook & Brown, and the songstress Vanita Smythe also add their talents to the show.

Unfortunately, the full-length film is lost. However, due to the nature of how Astro Pictures made the film, we can see some of the soundies today as they have survived. We have identified the following soundies:

• Cab Calloway & His Orchestra - The Skunk Song (1942)
• Count Basie & His Orchestra - Air Mail Special (1941)
• The Mills Brothers - Paper Doll (1942, featuring Dorothy Dandridge)
• The Jubalaires - Brother Bill (1945)
• Cook & Brown - Toot That Trumpet (1943, featuring Francine Everette)
• Vanita Smythe - They Raided the Joint (1946)
• Day, Dawn, & Dusk - Faust (1946)

There were several acts in this film, so I am sure there are more, but we need to prove which ones, as we did with the previously mentioned soundies from our resources.

Director: Unknown

Writer: Unknown

Starring Mantan Moreland, Dorothy Dandridge, Cab Calloway, Francine Everett, June Richmond, Vanita Smythe, Mable Lee, Count Basie, Pat Flowers, Day Dawn & Dusk, The Jubalaires, Cook & Brown, Ruby Hill, The Mills Brothers

Storyline

This film is a typical 1940s musical variety show featuring several prominent entertainers during this period.

**This film is considered lost until notified otherwise. However, since the film consisted of archival footage, some soundies may appear sporadically. **

Hi De Ho (1947)

Starring:

• Cab Calloway
• Ida James
• Jeni Le Gon
• William Campbell 
• James Dunmore 
• Edgar Martin 
• Dusty Fletcher

Storyline
Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive). All-black cast.

 

New Orleans (1947)

Starring:

• Louis Armstrong
• Billie Holiday 
• Arturo de Córdova 
• Dorothy Patrick 
• Marjorie Lord 
• Irene Rich 
• Bill Walker 
• Shelley Winters 
• John Alexander

Storyline
Music's greatest legends re-enact the birth of jazz in this song-filled tribute to the town where it all began: New Orleans! Arturo de Cordova stars as Nick, the proprietor of a Bourbon Street gambling joint, and artistic haven for African-American musicians. When he falls for an opera-singing socialite, Nick realizes that only through music will he gain respectability, and launches a campaign to bring jazz to the highbrow American stage. 

A refreshing rediscovery, New Orleans is especially noteworthy for its lack of racial stereotypes, as well as the high caliber of performances delivered by its stellar cast, including Louis Armstrong, Woody Herman, Kid Ory, Meade Lux Lewis and more. Perhaps the film's most memorable number is "Farewell to Storyville", a haunting blues melody sung by Billie Holiday as she leads a procession of black musicians exiled from the city -- a sequence that beautifully captures the melancholy and grace of Holiday's inimitable performance style. Other musical highlights include Holiday's rendition of "New Orleans", Armstrong's "Endie" and "Where The Blues Were Born", and their duet "The Blues Are Brewin". Also included in this DVD are two musical shorts from Paramount Studios (A Rhapsody In Black And Blue featuring Armstrong and Symphony In Black with Holiday and Duke Ellington) as well as an essay on the making of New Orleans, which originated as a project for Orson Welles.