Tag Archives: Herb Jeffries

Musical Monday: Harlem on the Prairie (1937)

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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:
Harlem on the Prairie (1937) – Musical #805

Studio:
Associated Features

Director:
Sam Newfield

Starring:
Herb Jeffries (billed as Herbert Jeffrey), F.E. Miller (billed as Flournoy Miller), Mantan Moreland, Consuelo Harris (billed as Connie Harris), Maceo Bruce Sheffield, Spencer Williams, George Randol, Nathan Curry
The Four Tones singers: Lucius Books, Rudolph Hunter, Leon Buck, Ira Hardin

Plot:
Doc Clayburn (Williams) returns home with his daughter Carolina (Harris) after 20 years. Upon arrival, Carolina learns that her father was part of a gold heist 20 years prior, and he wanted to return the gold. When Doc is killed by outlaw Wolf Cain (Sheffield) and his team of outlaws, Wolf puts pressure on Carolina for the gold. Jeff Kincaid (Jeffries), his team and friends Mistletoe (Moreland) and Crawfish (Miller) help Carolina get the gold to its rightful owners.

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Watching 1939: Harlem Rides the Range (1939)

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In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult. 

1939 film: 
Harlem Rides the Range (1939)

Release date: 
Feb. 1, 1939

Cast: 
Herb Jeffries, Lucius Brooks, F.E. Miller, Artie Young, Clarence Brooks, Spencer Williams, Leonard Christmas
Specialty Acts: The Four Tones, The Four Blackbirds

Studio: 
Hollywood Pictures Corporation

Director: 
Richard C. Kahn

Plot:
Bob Blake (Jeffries) and his pal Dusty (Brooks) come across an empty ranch Jim Dennison (Christmas) where it appears a murder may have taken place. Jim isn’t dead, but hiding after the event. Bob finds a photo of Jim’s daughter (Young), saying she’s beautiful, and accidentally drops his glove at the ranch by accident. Bob and Dusty are then hired at a nearby ranch while they try and figure out what happened to Jim. When Bob’s glove is found, he is accused of murder.

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Watching 1939: The Bronze Buckaroo (1939)

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In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult. 

1939 film:  The Bronze Buckaroo (1939)

Release date: 
1939

Cast: 
Herb Jeffries (as Herbert Jeffrey), Lucius Brooks, Artie Young, F.E. Miller, Spencer Williams, Clarence Brooks, Lee Calmes, Earle Morris
Themselves: The Four Tones

Studio: 
Sack Amusement Enterprises

Director: 
Richard C. Kahn

Plot:
Bob Blake (Jeffries/Jeffrey) receives a letter from his friend Joe Jackson asking for him to come to visit and to help him. When Bob arrives he meets Joe’s sister Betty (Young) who is shocked that Bob received a letter from her brother. Her brother Joe has been missing for a month after Joe and Betty’s father was killed. Bob sets out to figure out what happened to Joe.

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