Black Sheep

"Black Sheep" is unheralded, underrated, far-fetched and great fun. Loved every minute of the snappy dialogue and the fast-paced plot. I wished they had made a series of these as it was very entertaining - it's what makes people sing "That's Entertainment" when watching a terrific movie (They do, don't they?)

Good chemistry between Lowe and Trevor, who shows a flair for comedy I didn't know she had. Lowe is suave and debonair - he played too many roles requiring a dour and serious demeanor and here he gets a chance to smile and unwind in this breezy comedy. It is dated and takes place aboard a transatlantic ocean liner with the accompanying obsolete manners and customs, but if you are a fan of the best movies of Hollywood's so-called Golden Age, this one's for you.

Black Sheep (1935)

** (out of 4)

A professional gambler (Edmund Lowe) and a dancer (Claire Trevor) meet on a cruise ship and decide to pull a sting against a money hungry widow and a Texas oilman. This film has been pretty much forgotten over the years but it had a good reputation so I gave it a shot but it really didn't work for me. I've never been a fan of Lowe, who I find pretty dull as an actor but Trevor did manage to get a few nice laughs. The subplot dealing with Lowe's son was forced and wasn't believable while the actual sting is also quite boring and director Allan Dwan never manages any excitement.

Edmund Lowe is a professional gambler on a cruise ship, who likes to take the suckers' money, but he is known by the ship's detective and, if caught in the act, can be sequestered in his room for the duration and arrested. Tom Brown is a young man who has been taken by two old men, one of them played Eugene Palllette. who like to think they're something else by bluffing people, like this poor unsuspecting tot, and taking their money. We see as the film opens that they had nothing at all in their hands, while Tom had a pair of tens, and he winds up paying them, because of their bluffing and raising $500 here and $300 there. When Edmund catches on to the old men, he feels sorry for the young man. Edmund meets Claire Trevor, an actress, who appears to be somewhat well-off, but is still in second-class with Edmund. They form an friendship and plot to help the young man who was suckered by the old men. The twist is that when Edmund is in Tom's room he sees the pictures of Tom's mother and grandmother! Yes! He knows them! Put it together! When he does, he realizes who Tom is. This film was really good. We are immersed in Edmund's world and really come to care about him, and Tom and Claire. Tom tells him about another problem he's having. Adrienne Ames is a ruthless character who holds the cards over Tom concerning another debt. For 76 minutes, this film really packs a wallop. It's amazing to me how such simple, short films of the 1930s et al. can be so good, satisfying and fulfilling and much better than today's movies. While no award winner, the stars' acting and crisp writing make "Black Sheep" worth finding.

This is an excellent little film with two stars much better known for their supporting roles. A young Claire Trevor is more lovely than I have ever seen her. This may be one of her few `straight' roles. She is not the scheming woman in a film noir, a prostitute, saloon girl or a drunk. Edmund Lowe, a first line star during the silent era who never quite made it past supporting roles in the talkies, is a very believable gambler/con man.

Virtually the entire movie takes place on board a cruise ship so there are none of the car chases, gun fights, mid depression hard luck stories, etc. that tend to carry many mid '30s mysteries/dramas. The script contains a good deal of intrigue and suspense that is carried of well by Lowe and his `accomplice', Trevor. Adrienne Ames, who looks very much like Gail Patrick plays a character that was made for Patrick, the snooty, unlikable wealthy woman. Ames and Eugene Pallette support.

The Plot Outline for this movie accurately describes what occurs so there is no need to dwell there. The most enjoyable parts of the movie for me were the situations where Trevor is determining what kind of person Lowe is and whether or not he can be trusted, is honest, etc. Keep in mind Trevor and Lowe meet on the cruise ship. Lowe tells Trevor up front that he is a gambler and Trevor is not quite sure what to think as Lowe goes about `setting up' Pallette and Ames primarily through card games to get his son out of a jam and return the stolen jewels. This occurs in spite of the ship's detective and eventually everyone else involved knowing Lowe is a gambler.

The ending may be a bit too neat in today's terms but one must remember happy endings were important in the early and mid '30s.

This film, shown on cable recently, was a discovery. In only 76 minutes, this delicious comedy packs much more than lengthier ones. This is a tribute to the man in charge of it, Allan Dawn, who combines the right elements to give us this fabulous trans Atlantic voyage.

We are introduced to the main characters, Jeannette Foster and John Francis Dugan, traveling second class in a luxury liner. Dugan knows he can sneak into first class and takes Jeanette with him. John Dugan is a professional gambler that made his living out of these ships playing with the wealthy passengers. Jeanette is an actress returning home.

We also meet an assortment of the passengers in the upper deck. Among them, an immature playboy, Fred Curtis, who has no luck gambling and is in debt to the mysterious and sophisticated Mrs. Bath, a rich woman who has stolen an expensive necklace from one a European royal just for the thrill of it. We also meet Col. Belcher and his friend and partner in gambling, Schmelling, a funny pair that will soon lose money to Dugan, who knows more about the game.

The surprise comes from watching a splendid comedic turn by Claire Trevor, who we have seen in a lot of heavier roles. In this picture she clearly demonstrates she had a knack for playing a lighter fare. The movie also has an excellent performance from the great Edmund Lowe, an actor that was a pleasure to watch in everything he did.

In the smaller roles, the great Eugene Palette makes a great impression as Col. Belcher, a rich oil man returning from Europe. Adrienne Ames, was also good as the sophisticated Mrs. Bath. She plays this woman with great panache. Tom Brown, as the young Fred Curtis, makes a good contribution to the film.

The ensemble work that Allan Dawn got from all the major players, as well as the rest of the crew makes "Black Sheep" a delight to watch. The fantastic crossing of the Atlantic in the era of the luxury ships will enchant anyone looking for a carefree time at the movies.