The diminutive Frankie Darro made eight films with Manlan Moreland--making their pairing one of the most unusual in screen history. Unfortunately, however, most of their films were pretty ordinary or sub-par B-movies with little to recommend them today. But, unlike the rest, this film is actually pretty enjoyable and holds up pretty well.
When I watched "Up in the Air", I felt I'd seen it before--and I had. This film was remade only five years later as "There Goes Kelly". In addition, variations on this plot were made by Abbott & Costello and others--including Claude Rains. So, for old movie buffs, it's likely that you'll have seen something like it as well.
The film begins like all Darro/Moreland films--Darro is a very eager and rather hyper young man who has dreams of being so much more. Although employed as a page at a radio network, he has dreams of being an executive or even a detective. So, when an obnoxious diva is killing there, Darro immediately springs into action to try to solve the crime. And, being a B-movie, he actually DOES! It's all enjoyable and works out well except for one problem. About midway through the film, Darro and Moreland recreate a skit made famous in vaudeville by Ben Carter and Moreland. And, since Carter and Moreland were black men, Darro dons black-face and does a routine that is highly reminiscent of Moran and Mack or the original Amos 'n Andy! Seeing this white guy in black makeup is just cringe-worthy and sad.
When I watched "Up in the Air", I felt I'd seen it before--and I had. This film was remade only five years later as "There Goes Kelly". In addition, variations on this plot were made by Abbott & Costello and others--including Claude Rains. So, for old movie buffs, it's likely that you'll have seen something like it as well.
The film begins like all Darro/Moreland films--Darro is a very eager and rather hyper young man who has dreams of being so much more. Although employed as a page at a radio network, he has dreams of being an executive or even a detective. So, when an obnoxious diva is killing there, Darro immediately springs into action to try to solve the crime. And, being a B-movie, he actually DOES! It's all enjoyable and works out well except for one problem. About midway through the film, Darro and Moreland recreate a skit made famous in vaudeville by Ben Carter and Moreland. And, since Carter and Moreland were black men, Darro dons black-face and does a routine that is highly reminiscent of Moran and Mack or the original Amos 'n Andy! Seeing this white guy in black makeup is just cringe-worthy and sad.