Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

mark.waltz Poor Georgette Harvey, the singer and actress who played the supporting role of Maria in both the original "Porgy" and its musical version, "Porgy and Bess". She made only a handful of films which document her acting on screen, unlike her stage work which is lost forever. In this way below Z grade exploitation film, she plays an evil mammy obsessed with revenge, directed to overact and thus be preserved as long as this film survives as a representation of one of the most sinister of black stereotypes. Coming off feisty but kindly in the first reel, she quickly turns, taking the light skinned young woman (Olive Borden) she claims to be her daughter back to her home to avenge the death of her father whom she claims was Borden's father. Of course, she's got all the facts wrong, and looks on with sinister intent as Borden falls in love with the white Reed Howes who works for wealthy plantation owner Francis Joyner whom Harvey blames for lynching her dead husband. The revenge includes the use of black magic, aka "voodoo", and that leads to a ceremony where Joyner's niece (Molly O'Day) is kidnapped and prepped to be a sacrifice.I give this more than a "bomb" rating simply because it made me laugh (even though I felt guilty about laughing) at how ridiculous the whole story it was. I am way beyond judging films for long gone viewpoints of blacks and other minorities in films, even though this is obviously considered way beyond offensive today. I consider this a truly lousy film in the sense that the dialog is outlandish, the plot contrived, and any realistic motivations guiding the characters completely absent. Borden and O'Day, completely forgotten today, were once major young ingenues in early talkies, and other than one scene where O'Day makes her concerns known about welcoming Borden into the family known to her uncle, there is really no dynamic for intrigue concerning their characters. There's really a lack of a showdown between Harvey and Joyner, only the slightest resolution of their conflict, and never believable. Some stereotypical "Uncle Tom" type characters try to lighten down the presentation of blacks as evil devil worshipers, but even their patronizing behavior towards Joyner (pretty much made out to be almost saintly) is a bit disconcerting as well. This is the type of film I would consider like the presentation of "Glen or Glenda" as seen by a Paramount executive in "Ed Wood": the type of a film made and sent to someone in the hierarchy seemingly as a joke.

wes-connors "A young woman of mixed parentage lives in the bayou, raised by a black voodoo priestess who looks to avenge the death of her husband, lynched by an angry white mob. As the tension rises due to the evil plans of the priestess, the young woman finds herself torn between two cultures. Hoping to break free from the control of the woman who raised her, the young woman finds she must confront the priestess in order to save her own life, as well as those the priestess intends to harm," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.Voodoo… Hocus-pocus… Racist… Trash! The most astonishing thing about "Chloe, Love Is Calling You" is that it was directed by Marshall Neilan. One of the most well-known filmmakers of the 1920s, Mr. Neilan's films were once eagerly anticipated. He was especially successful in partnership with Mary Pickford (see "Stella Maris"). Beautiful star Olive Borden ended her ten-year film career as "Chloe", unfortunately. It also offers a good look at handsome Reed Howes (as Wade) and handsome Philip Ober (as Jim), who was Vivian Vance's volatile husband (off-screen) during "I Love Lucy".** Chloe, Love Is Calling You (1934) Marshall Neilan ~ Olive Borden, Reed Howes, Philip Ober

kidboots Marshall Neilan was the "wiz kid" and "boy wonder" director of the 1920s. Even though he had been directing films since 1913 he was "officially" discovered by Mary Pickford and given his chance to direct her in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (1917). Then he was on his way. He loved good times and plenty of them and also like some other members of the film community he made an enemy of Louis B Mayer. High living caught up with Neilan and by the end of the 20s he was reduced to doing some uncredited directing in "Tanned Legs". Neilan only made a couple more films after Chloe although just before he died he won high praise for his role in "A Face in the Crowd" (1957).Sadly, it was Olive Borden's last film. She had been considered one of the most beautiful actresses of the 20s, but she was also a victim of high living, though in Chloe, she still retained some of her beauty.Chloe is coming back to her childhood home. Her "mammy" Mandy, is using voodoo to wreak vengeance on the rich family because she thinks the colonel killed her husband. Chloe can't reconcile to the fact that she may have "coloured" blood in her. After words with Jim, who says she will never find a "white" man to love her (he secretly loves her himself) Chloe falls into a crocodile infested swamp and is rescued by Wade Carson (Reed Howes). He also falls for her and she returns his love because he is the "white" man she has always dreamed about.When the colonel goes to Mandy's cabin to confront her about some voodoo charms and a missing photo he finds a child's dress and shoes that belonged to his little daughter. She drowned in the river 15 years before and her body has never been found. After a few doubts it is proved that Chloe is the colonel's daughter and the way is clear for her to marry Wade. Chloe is the most racist person in the film. Even though she was raised and loved by Mandy, the black priestess, she has no reciprocal feelings for her - only feelings of fear and loathing. She seems to dislike Jim because he feels comfortable around the black people. He is quite the nicest person in the film, having risked his life for her several times but she doesn't have any friendly feelings for him. She is horrible.This film does not resemble "White Zombie" in the least, except for the voodoo references - it has more in common with "Pinky" (1949).Reed Howes, who had a long career (1923-1964) mostly uncredited parts - plays Wade Carson. Molly O'Day sister of the better known Sally O'Neil, had her best role as Curley Boyle in "The Patent Leather Kid" (1927). She plays Joyce, the Colonel's daughter.I can't recommend this film.

miketritico I agree that the plot and presentation are flawed, however, there is value in seeing how some people perceived certain social situations during an earlier era in our history. Not all people at that time, of course, saw things the same way, nor would they have made the movie in the way that it was done, but I appreciate all the old films because each gives us a short look at things through other eyes.As for the complaint that the NAACP would not like the film, I am not sure about that. Maybe they would see some value in the enhanced exposure of certain attitudes, maybe not.Having grown up in Louisiana, I do think that the voodoo scenes were overdone and the man wrestling with an already dead alligator was pretty hokey, but I was pleased to see some clear water for a change. (I suspect that scene may have been filmed in Florida because by the 1930's we had pretty much ruined our bayous already.)Mike