An action comedy directed by Yarbrough, and gathering Darro, Moreland, Marcia Mae Jones, Keye Luke, Moran, Homans as a dishonest patriarch, and Laurence Criner as Ham Shanks, the black henchman. The script's ideas about dignity and honor seem very conventional (the dubious morality of exonerating the compromised oldster), so there's enough silliness and amorality, coldly registered and assumed. The humor is light, but the main characters do face death. Today, this may seem indifference, perhaps it was a tougher mind. This trend of making crime comedies very light has vanished since. But even back in the day some protested against the mindless playfulness of the crime comedies.
Luke plays a distinguished detective, who's ahead of everyone else in understanding the situation.
Moreland, who offers the acting highlight (as in almost every other movie he has been in), is sadly billed 5th. But he has been given the 2nd lead, because he's more than the truck-driver's sidekick. For the early '40s, 75 yrs ago, Mantan was Frankie's sidekick, assistant, the unworthy carrier of his shield, nowadays we perceive him as the buddy, indeed like a foreboding of the '80s crime movies; there's an implied more positive attitude toward other races in this movie, see the Chinese detective, also the fact that Criner has been given a part, though a not very flattering one, yet he managed to make a strong impression.
Both Darro and Luke are very likable. As in other comedies, Darro and Moran are contrasting characters, with the 2nd being the sillier, and the 1st, more determined, sterner, tenacious, pushing.
The usual couple of Marcia and Moran is relegated to the supporting cast. Even in terms of acting, she was way better.
Much of the movie's genuine fun should be credited to its director, who knew how to handle light humor (the girl educating the mechanic, or Frankie giving Mantan a driving lesson in the garage).
Most of what Monogram had best to give is here.
Luke plays a distinguished detective, who's ahead of everyone else in understanding the situation.
Moreland, who offers the acting highlight (as in almost every other movie he has been in), is sadly billed 5th. But he has been given the 2nd lead, because he's more than the truck-driver's sidekick. For the early '40s, 75 yrs ago, Mantan was Frankie's sidekick, assistant, the unworthy carrier of his shield, nowadays we perceive him as the buddy, indeed like a foreboding of the '80s crime movies; there's an implied more positive attitude toward other races in this movie, see the Chinese detective, also the fact that Criner has been given a part, though a not very flattering one, yet he managed to make a strong impression.
Both Darro and Luke are very likable. As in other comedies, Darro and Moran are contrasting characters, with the 2nd being the sillier, and the 1st, more determined, sterner, tenacious, pushing.
The usual couple of Marcia and Moran is relegated to the supporting cast. Even in terms of acting, she was way better.
Much of the movie's genuine fun should be credited to its director, who knew how to handle light humor (the girl educating the mechanic, or Frankie giving Mantan a driving lesson in the garage).
Most of what Monogram had best to give is here.