It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Beware (1946) – Musical #782

Studio:
Astor Pictures

Director:
Bud Pollard

Starring:
As himself: Louis Jordan
Other performers: Frank H. Wilson, Emory Richardson, Valerie Black, Milton Woods, Joseph Hiliard, Tommy Hix, Charles Johnson, John Grant, Walter Earle, Ernest Calloway, Dimples Daniels
Louis Jordan’s Tympany Band: Wild Bill Davis, Joshua W. Jackson, Aaron Izenhall, Carl Hogan, Jesse Simplain, Eddie Byrd

Plot:
Ware College loses their financial endowment when the grandson of the college’s founder, Benjamin Ware III (Woods). In an effort to raise money in order to stay open, Dean Hargreaves (Richardson) and Prof. Drury (Wilson) reach out to well-established alumni, such as students who went on to become lawyers or politicians. Former student Lucius Brokenshire Jordan (Jordan) is one student they didn’t reach out to, because they don’t know how to reach him and “He was always so involved with his saxophone.” Unbeknownst to them, Jordan is now a successful bandleader, traveling across the country on tour. When his train has a delay near Ware College, he stops in for a visit and realizes their financial troubles, and stays to help.

Trivia:
• Bandleader Louis Jordan’s first acting role in a feature film. Prior to this, Jordan appeared in other films are a musical guest appearance.
• In real life, Louis Jordan’s band was known as “Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.” In the film, it is “His Tympany Six.”
• The film is named for Jordan’s song, “Beware” which was released in Jan. 1944.
• Louis Jordan donated the proceeds of the film’s premiere to the Riverdale Children’s Association, according to his biographer.
• The premiere for the film was attended by bandleader Joe ‘Kaiser’ Marshall, the Nicholas Brothers, Canada Lee, Maxine Sullivan, Thelma Carpenter, Pete Johnson and Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith.

Highlights:
• Louis Jordan’s music

Notable Songs:
• “How Long Must I Wait For You” performed by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Six
• “Good morning, Heartache” performed by Louis Jordan
• “In the Land of the Buffalo Nickle” performed by Louis Jordan
• “Hold On” performed by Louis Jordan
• “Don’t Worry ‘Bout That Mule” performed by Louis Jordan
• “Long-Legged Lizzie” performed by Louis Jordan
• “Salt Pork, West Virginia” performed by Louis Jordan

My review:
After watching BEWARE (1946), I think it’s a darn same that bandleader and musician, Louis Jordan, didn’t have more opportunity to act.

While he appeared as a musical specialty act prior to this film, this is the first and only film that starred Jordan and cast him in an acting role. You’d never know it though, because he’s a natural.

The film revolves around Ware College in Ohio, which is in financial trouble. The school was left an endowment by its founder, Benjamin Ware, but Ware’s grandson, Benjamin Ware III (Woods) says the funds have run out. The school’s dean and professors try to rally prominent alumni to help raise money for the school. Alumni Louis Jordan happens to stop by his old college and learns of the school’s troubles. While the professors have no idea about alumni Jordan’s (as himself) success, the students are all well familiar with Louis Jordan and his music. While he works to help the school, Jordan also helps uncover what really happened to the money.

BEWARE is known as a “race film,” starring an all-Black cast for segregated audiences. Produced between the dawn of film through the early 1950s, these films were produced outside of major Hollywood studios. Sometimes, race films still include racial stereotypes, but BEWARE thankfully does not include any of those inappropriate stereotypes or jokes.

This 55-minute film has a simple plot but is chockful of excellent songs performed by Louis Jordan and his band. As Jordan sings all of the songs, often with his saxophone on hand as well, it’s obvious why he was great at acting. He put so much personality, charm and charisma into his music and singing.

In a 1946 review in Down Beat they wrote:
“There’s not too much to the picture, a one-week quickie. Mostly the camera and mic are trained on Louis Jordan, who sings, plays and dishes out lines. But Louis happens to be such a terrific performer that the results are more satisfying than plenty of elaborate Hollywood super-productions.”

I think this review hits the nail on the head. It’s a great showcase of Jordan’s talents.

I also love the collegiate feel of the musical. A particular highlight is as students dance to Jordan’s band in their classroom.

BEWARE is chockful of songs and it’s nearly non-stop songs, but it’s a great time. Though it’s a not much in the way of plot, it’s still a wonderful time.

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