Swing!

Some fun milestones by the writer-director Oscar Micheaux ... he was the first african american to produce full length films in both silent and sound films. According to wikipedia, Michaeux had started as pullman train porter, and learned about business on the way up. In addition, he had homesteaded in the west, and wrote novels about his experiences. With the money raised, this astute businessman turned the book into a film and formed his own film company to make it. SWING ! has the same basic premise... Ted Gregory (Carman Newsome) wants to be the first african american to put a show on Broadway, but has to overcome various challenges along the way. Drunk actors, broken bones, and a busted-up home life get in the way of the show. "Mandy" (Cora Green) seems to be at the center of all this. Some good music featured along the way, like Doli Armena on the trumpet. Not much info anywhere on The Tyler Twins...looks like they were featured in two of Micheaux's films, but that's about all i could find. Leon Gross' big hit was "Stack-A-Lee", which told the true story of the shooting of Bill Lyons by Stag Shelton. Hazel Diaz sings a sad, lilting version of "Once I Did" to the piano. In Swing, the story is quite good! over-coming challenges and roadblocks, and making good. Shown on turner classics as part of the martin l. king day films. good stuff!

There are previous reviews on this board that give details about the content and subject matter of this film; as well as their low-rating, critical opinions and disparaging comments about how bad this particular film is. That being said...I am not going to waste time repeating what this film is about. What I will do....is defend Mr. Oscar Micheaux, this film and all others in his discography!

As an African-American, I commend Mr. Oscar Micheaux, for battling against the behemoth of blatant racism in Hollywood and society at large, during that time to make these "black pearls" featuring all black casts....for the black populace! I also commend those white factions that supported the pursuit of his craft with their financial assistance. The plots, acting, etc., may not be pristine, and in quite a few instances they are bad...but I don't care...because they are here and they exist! If I started a list of 'acceptable' Hollywood fare and how bad they were and continue to be even to this day.....the list would take up every available space on this board! Thank you Mr. Oscar Micheaux, for leaving "us" a legacy no one else could or wanted to do...and thank you IMDb for documenting background and dialogue on his films.

Swing! (1938)

** (out of 4)

Oscar Micheaux directed film about an abused maid (Cora Green) who catches her wannabe pimp boyfriend cheating on her so she runs off to Harlem. Once in Harlem she gets a job in an off Broadway production for a producer who hopes to get the first black production on Broadway. This story certainly isn't original and there's not much flair but the film remains slightly entertaining throughout due to some good direction and some great jazz numbers. The performances are average for the most part but Green is good enough not too drag the film down. There's one scene where a woman, drunk of course, falls down some steps and breaks her leg, which gets a huge laughs, which was certainly unintentional.

It is a terrible movie but it is also fascinating. A piece of history is captured on film. Some of the musical scenes are powerful and there are money of them. The acting and the writing are subpar but they work; I wasn't bored for a second. This is like a black 42nd street. Incredible in the black stereotypes that abound and are just simply accepted. What was it about the black women of this era always getting involved with men who took their money and screwed around; that theme seems to haunt us even to this day. It seems that white women are more willing to dump them quickly or am I just imagining.

Amazing for being a low budget production with great music and dance numbers. An interesting plot with fairly good acting. Definitely worth a watch.