Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

mark.waltz Fans of the Fats Waller musical tribute "Ain't Misbehavin'" will adore this all-black film set in a Harlem nightclub., featuring some of the best black entertainers of the 1940's. It's all about putting on a black musical revue, with a bit of a jewel heist caper thrown in for good measure. Everyone from Moms (Jackie) Mabley, Butterfly McQueen (being very much like Gracie Allen) to Nat King Cole and wonderful imitators of the Ink Spots get to perform. Mobley is funny in a sequence where, like the Keystone Cops ballet in "High Button Shoes", thinks the audience is laughing at her while a variety of cops appear behind her, coming out of a magic booth involved in humorous hijinks. The musical highlight is a performance of "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do" and the unforgettable voice of Nat King Cole, here not singly billed, but appearing as part of the King Cole trio. The film's print is rather poor but the sound quality is satisfactory, making this a great record of what black audiences and the many other fans of that style of entertainment were enjoying "way uptown" in the golden age of Harlem entertainment.

dbborroughs This is another of the filmed vaudeville shows that played to black theaters in the 40's and 50's. These films have just enough plot to string together some musical and comedy acts with varied amount of success. I've seen several of these films now thanks to bargain DVD companies and this is one of the best.The nominal plot has a theater owner needing a magician to replace one thats disappeared. A booking agent send over a beaten ratty looking gentlemen who makes mischief between the owner and his girlfriend. The owner wants to see the magic act and the magician obliges by making the girlfriend disappear not to mention the police who come to investigate. A chase begins, which gets paused as some one remembers that the show must go on, so the doors are opened and the audience enters. What follows are some dynamite musical and comedy acts including Nat King Cole and Moms Mabley (who appeared in other films like this to better effect, but I'm quibbling). Its a great deal of fun and unlike most other films of this type there really isn't a bad act in the bunch. The film ends with the magician doing his thing...but to say any more would be telling.Definitely a film worth searching out. No only one of the best films of this type, its also just a very good filmed piece of entertainment. Certainly the sort of thing that will bear repeated viewings, which is probably the best thing I can say about any film.

fubared1 Don't be fooled by the other reviewers. Although this film contains an impressive array of talent, the material they present leaves a great deal to be desired. Nat King Cole's 3 numbers are pretty lame and not even close to his later efforts, though he does impress with his piano playing. 'Moms' Mabley is not a bit funny, though I remember her as a very entertaining talk show guest from my youth. Actually, the best performances are from a couple of fat guys who impress with a lively tap dance and a Four Tops takeoff, and the jazz band itself, especially in the number featuring the bass player. The print itself is pretty poor quality, and the wonderful Butterfly McQueen is totally wasted in the wraparound plot.

Anthony Miller The plot doesn't matter much, although it is fairly important to understanding the ending (which I failed to pay attention to.) But it isn't necessary in order to enjoy the classic performances from some of the 1940s biggest acts, my favorite being Nat King Cole's silky melodies with his early King Cole Trio. But the Clark Brothers are showstoppers, and their tap routine here is no less entertaining than the Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather, another personal favorite. Some of the comedy material may be extremely dated, but I couldn't help but think if "Moms" Mabley's set was performed by my Grandmother...now THAT is what killed me. What surprised me most amidst all the notable performances was that any of the humor survived these 57 years, making it a barely hour-long curiosity for the brave jazz, dance, or history buff.