The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Sunday, January 13, 2013

Lucky Ghost (1942)




















































Starring:

Storyline
Two swindlers, Washington and Jefferson (Moreland and Miller), were roaming around when they came across two high rollers waiting on their chauffeur to get gas after their car ran out. In a streak of luck, Washington won all the belongings from the two men, including a large wad of cash and their fancy car. To celebrate their winnings, Washington and Jefferson head to a local country club which is owned by Blake (Sheffield), a heavy handed boss with a jealous attitude for his hot hostess (O'Brien). When a customer of the club is kicked out by Blake, he is tossed into nearby cemetery where is awakens the dead who happen to be the previous owners of the club and relatives of Blake. Displeased with how Blake is running the club, the ghost is determined to shut everything down and end Washington's streak of luck.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Murder With Music [a.k.a. Mistaken Identity] (1941)


































Starring:



Storyline
Louis the piano player is murdered by a knife-throwing killer in the middle of a show at Bill Smith's nightclub. Suspicion immediately falls on Mike, an escaped convict, mainly due to stories being phoned into the city desk by nosy reporter Hal Ford. Hal has more than news on his mind, though - he has his eye on the club's main attraction, Lola. The sexy singer is also Mike's girl when he's not in jail. When Mike and Lola are mistaken for club owner Bill Smith and his wife, Hal sees an opportunity to put his rival away for good.

Music is the real highlight of Mistaken Identity (aka Murder with Music), focusing most of its screen time on hot performances by The Skippy Williams Band, great singing by popular nightclub star Nelle Hill, and featuring a wild production number, "I'm a Bangi from Ubangi."