Scatman Crothers Movies
African- American entertainer Scatman Crothers supported himself as a drummer throughout his high-school years. He formed a popular dance band, playing successful engagements even in the whitest of white communities, regaling audiences with his free-form "scat singing." In the formative years of television, Crothers became the first black performer to host a TV musical program in Los Angeles. He made his movie debut in the 1951 minstrel-show pastiche Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (1951). The best of his 1950s film appearances was as Dan Dailey's medicine-show partner in Meet Me at the Fair (1952). For the next three decades, Crother's movie roles varied in size; he was seen to best advantage as the concerned handyman in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980). Adult TV fans will remember Scatman Crothers as Louie the garbageman on the 1970s sitcom Chico and the Man; Crothers also did voice-over work in the title role of the Saturday morning cartoon series Hong Kong Phooey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Although the characters' names were changed, The Great White Hope was a thinly veiled account of the trials and tribulations of boxer Jack Johnson, based on the play by Howard Sackler and directed by Martin Ritt. James Earl Jones stars as boxing great Jack Jefferson, who defeats Frank Bardy Larry Pennell in a Reno, Nevada bout to become the world's first black heavyweight champion. After crossing a state line with his white girlfriend Eleanor (Jane Alexander in her feature debut), however, Jack is arrested and tried under the miscegenation-barring Mann Act. Found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison, Jack escapes and leaves the U.S., but he's dogged by his now bad reputation and can't get honest work as a fighter. Offered his freedom from criminal charges if he'll agree to a fixed fight in Cuba that will restore the title to a white contender, Jack refuses and Eleanor commits suicide, their life on the run overwhelming her. Jack finally accepts the bout in Havana, but he fights his opponent with everything he's got. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, (more)
The Aristocats was the first Disney Studios animated feature to be produced after Walt Disney's death. A wealthy woman leaves her vast fortune to her four cats: the well-bred Duchess and her kittens, Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. Jealous butler Edgar, eager to get his mitts on the cats' legacy, abandons the felines in the French countryside. The four lost kitties are aided in their efforts to return home by the raffish country pussycats Thomas O'Malley and Scat Cat. In keeping with a tradition launched by The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats is top-heavy with celebrity voices, including Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Scatman Crothers, Hermione Baddeley, and the ineluctable Sterling Holloway. Assembled by the "nine old men" then in charge of animation, The Aristocats was a commercial success, essentially proving that Disney animated features could succeed without the involvement of the company's founder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, (more)
- 1970
- R
Shelley Winters, who once played the spoofish "Ma Parker" on Batman, brings the same larger-than-life approach to her portrayal of real-life Ma Barker in Bloody Mama. Presiding over her outlaw gang, consisting mainly of her goonish sons, Ma goes on a Depression-era rampage of bank robbery, murder and kidnapping. Obviously filmed in a hurry-watch as the Barker mob drives past modern shopping centers-- Bloody Mama strives for an entertaingly sleazy aura, especially when dealing with the incestuous subtext of Ma's relationship with her boys. And look who plays the Barker brood: Clint Kimbrough, Robert Walden and Robert De Niro! Bloody Mama was scripted by Robert Thom, whose previous collaboration with producer Roger Corman was the cult classic Wild in the Streets (former 1950s ingenue Diane Varsi appears in both films). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shelley Winters, Pat Hingle, (more)
- 197z
Historical individuals are documented in this series as hosted by Arte Johnson and Jim Backus. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1970
- R
Chesty (Shari Eubank), a member of the U.S. Navy, is notified that her sister has been found dead in a garbage chopper. She suspects the head of the local trash-hauling company is responsible. She enlists three of her fellow female sailors (who are also kung fu experts) to go after him and get proof that he was the killer. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Artist Christopher Pride (Jerry Lewis) has just been commissioned to work in Paris. Wanting to kill two birds with one stone, he plans to bring his soon-to-be bride along to celebrate their honeymoon. Unfortunately, his girlfriend (Janet Leigh) is a psychiatrist trying to contend with a trio of young women who utterly despise men. These women are too unstable to leave alone. In hopes of hastening the women's treatment, Christopher impersonates three men in hopes of helping them realize that not all men are cads. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Janet Leigh, (more)
Olivia de Havilland stars in this sensationalistic shocker as Mrs. Halyard, a wealthy widow recuperating from a broken hip. Inside her mansion, she becomes trapped between floors in her elevator. She activates an emergency alarm but succeeds only in attracting the attention of the wino (Jeff Corey), who steals goods from her house and sells them to a fence. The wino visits Sade (Ann Sothern), a prostitute, who spreads the plight of Mrs. Hilyard's dilemma to three young hoods, Randall (James Caan), Elaine (Jennifer Billingsley), and Essie (Rafael Campos). The trio follows the wino and the hooker back to the mansion, where they have an orgy, kill the wino, and lock Sade in a closet. Randall taunts Mrs. Hilyard and confronts her with a nasty suicide note from her son, Malcolm (William Swan). Mrs. Hilyard, mustering up her strength, attempts to fight back against Randall and the two other goons. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia de Havilland, Ann Sothern, (more)
Toward the end of Jerry Lewis's Paramount studio period, Lewis slapped together this bitter comedy about Hollywood phoniness and fame that has to be the most rancid portrait of the Hollywood star system in the Rat Pack era this side of Clifford Odets. When a famous entertainer suddenly is killed in an airplane crash, his team of flunkies -- producer Caryl Fergusson (Everett Sloane), writer Chic Wymore (Phil Harris), press agent Harry Silver (Keenan Wynn), director Morgan Heywood (Peter Lorre in his final film role), valet Bruce Alden (John Carradine), and secretary Ellen Betz (Ina Balin) -- decide to continue their life style by finding a complete unknown and manufacturing him into a Hollywood star. That unknown turns out to be the nervous and inept bellboy Stanley Belt (Jerry Lewis). They train Stanley to become an over-night singing sensation, and despite a disastrous recording session and a failed nightclub performance, the public relations blitz makes Stanley's recording of "I Lost My Heart in a Drive-In Movie" a smash single. So much so that Stanley is given a shot at appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Expecting the worst, Stanley's management team abandons him right before his performance. But Stanley musters up enough confidence to go on the live program alone and manages to surprise his pessimistic ex-staff. A collection of Hollywood celebrities circa 1964 --George Raft, Ed Wynn, Ed Sullivan, Mel Torme, Rhonda Fleming and Hedda Hopper -- make cameo appearances. High spots include an apocalyptic music lesson with voice teacher Dr. Mule-rrr (Hans Conried), Ed Sullivan performing a bizarre impersonation of himself, and an ending that would make even Jean-Luc Godard blush. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Ina Balin, (more)
- 1961
Bonanza marked the beginning of its third season by moving from Saturdays at 7:30 PM EST to its now-legendary Sunday 9 PM berth, where it would remain for the next eleven years. Telecast September 24, 1961, the inaugural third-season episode, "The Smiler", was written by Lewis Reed. Defending the honor of widow Mrs. McClure (Catherine McLeod), Hoss Cartwright accidently kills town bully Arthur Bolling (Hy Terman). Shortly thereafter, Arthur's brother Clarence (Herschel Bernardi) arrives in town with smiling assurances that he forgives Hoss. In truth, however, the insidious Clarence has mapped out an intricate plan of revenge, beginning with subtly coercing Mrs. Clure to change her testimony at Hoss' court hearing. Also in the cast of "The Smiler" are Scatman Crothers as Jud and Bill Zuckert as Gilbert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Rachel Cade (Angie Dickinson), a dedicated American nurse working in the Belgian Congo, meets administrator Henri Derode (Peter Finch) during a native fertility dance. Guess what he tries to do? He doesn't, though, because Rachel falls in love with handsome downed RAF pilot Paul Wilton (Roger Moore). As Paul's wounds heal in the jungle hospital, he and Rachel manage to find quality time together. After he leaves, a pregnant Rachel turns to the previously rejected Henri for aid and comfort. After an hour or so of further melodramatic complications (including a native uprising), Rachel realizes that it was Henri she loved all along. A standard-issue soap opera from the Warner Bros. factory, The Sins of Rachel Cade was unobtrusively directed by the ubiquitous Gordon M. Douglas. Edward Anhalt adapted the screenplay from a novel by Charles E. Mercer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angie Dickinson, Peter Finch, (more)
- 1958
While the train he is riding on is temporarily stalled by a blizzard, effusive old rancher Mr. Kilmer (Chill Wills) regales the other passengers with one of his tall tales. Throughout Kilmer's monologue, he is constantly interrupted by an obnoxious eight-year-old boy named Johnny (Peter Lazer). Finally, Kilmer offers Johnny a silver dollar if he can remain quiet for ten minutes. Dutifully, Johnny shuts up -- while outside, the blizzard rages on, and the search for an escaped mental patient continues. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Robert Wagner stars as insensitive Southern landowner who gets a much-overdue dose of humility and democracy when he's drafted into the army. Unable to curb his arrogance, Wagner runs afoul of a sadistic military officer (Broderick Crawford), who makes it his mission in life to break the recalcitrant recruit. After rescuing a fellow soldier (Buddy Ebsen), Wagner discovers he has the inner strength to change his outlook on life, and to stand up to the vicious Crawford. Based on a novel by Francis I. Gwaltney, Between Heaven and Hell features uncredited appearances by Frank Gorshin, Scatman Crothers, and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, (more)
- 1954
Tony Curtis stars as Johnny Dark, a moody automobile designer. Rejected by a major auto firm because of his "radical" notions, Johnny sets out to prove the efficiency of his cars on the racetrack. He is aided and abetted by pretty Piper Laurie and less pretty Paul Kelly, while motor mogul Sidney Blackmer fumes and fusses until he realizes that Johnny's designs will save his company. Most of the film is devoted to a marathon race, pitting Johnny against his friendly enemy Don Taylor. Johnny Dark is a must for racing buffs, as well as a prime example of Tony Curtis in his beefcake period. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, (more)
- 1953
Director Budd Boetticher moves out of his traditional western surroundings for the Technicolor programmer East of Sumatra. Jeff Chandler stars as an American miner, who journeys east of Sumatra in search of tin ore. He runs afoul of Anthony Quinn, a local despot who rules the Pacific island which Chandler hopes to mine. This being a Boetticher film, there's a lot of "faking out" from both hero and villain, as each man takes full measure of the other before making any sudden, violent moves. The climactic native uprising, is well worth the wait, even though everyone in the audience is fully aware who will come out on top. East of Sumatra was based on a novel by Louis L'Amour, a western specialist who like Budd Boetticher proved quite capable of working outside his own particular genre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Chandler, Marilyn Maxwell, (more)
- 1953
Walking My Baby Back Home is a bubbly musical of no significance whatsoever, but this doesn't diminish its enjoyability factor. The film wastes no time in showing off the singing and dancing skills of star Donald O'Connor, who is seen cavorting about during the opening credits. O'Connor plays war veteran Jigger Millard, who forms a band with several other musically inclined ex-GIs. Unfortunately, Jigger's music isn't what the public craves, so he's forced to join a minstrel show headed by Colonel Wallace (George Cleveland), the uncle of pretty Chris Hall (Janet Leigh). As he performs the old "down in Dixie" numbers required of him, Jigger is inspired to reorganize his band into a Dixieland aggregation, with the considerable input of black musician Smiley (Scatman Crothers). Buddy Hackett is on hand as comedy relief Blimp Edwards. A tantalizing excerpt from Walking My Baby Back Home was seen in an ironic context during a 1970s Columbo TV episode, guest-starring Janet Leigh as the murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald O'Connor, Janet Leigh, (more)
- 1952
Despite its ebullient title and the presence of lightweight dancing star Dan Dailey, Meet Me at the Fair has a lot more meat on its bones than most musicals of the early 1950s. Dailey plays an early-1900s medicine show huckster who finds himself the reluctant guardian of orphanage escapee Chet Allen. As he grows fond of the boy, Dailey becomes determined to thwart the corrupt system that allows substandard orphan asylums to operate while political hacks get rich on government funding. Dailey wins the confidence (and love) of orphan committee member Diana Lynn, who helps to foil the machinations of crooked district attorney Hugh O'Brien. The darker aspects of Meet Me at the Fair are lightened by director Douglas Sirk's marvelous recreations of backstage life at the turn of the century. The film is also a special treat for fans of Scatman Crothers, who is never less than terrific as Dan Dailey's sidekick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Dailey, Diana Lynn, (more)
- 1951
While linked with Lippert Studios in the 1950s, producer-director Ron Ormond seemed determined to revive every form of old-fashioned American entertainment, from vaudeville to country hoedown. In Yes Sir, Mr. Bones, Ormond re-creates a vintage minstrel show. Veteran troupers strut their stuff and reminisce about their glory days in the late 19th and early 20th century. Among those present are Cotton and Chick Watts, Ches Davis, Flournoy E. Miller, and the Hobnobbers. In addition to the many white performers in blackface, the film also features several genuine African-American entertainers, including the great Jester Hairston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cotton Watts, Chick Watts, (more)
- 1947
O'Voutie O'Rooney is a rarity of its time period -- an extended live performance film of a popular music artist. It features Slim Gaillard and his trio in 1947 performing live at Billy Berg's Nightclub in Los Angeles. It was made by Poverty Row director Jack Rieger, who numbered among his other credits Yiddish musicals and sporting events such as boxing matches. O'Voutie O'Rooney was marketed as a short film by indie distributor Astor Pictures, who tagged it along with feature films made for all-black cinemas. In a simple, almost television-type style, it captures the bizarre songs and performance style of Gaillard, who was then one of the most popular performers in black entertainment. It also preserves the huge bassist Bam Brown's equally interesting and zany support of Gaillard; while it is less known, Brown's work is more complimentary to the star than Gaillard's more famous collaboration with Slam Stewart. Finally, Scatman Crothers, today renowned mostly for other things, was exercising only one of his many talents on this date as Gaillard's energetic and charismatic drummer. This is the Scatman's second earliest appearance on film and predates his studio recordings, though his career as an entertainer began on radio in 1932. ~ David Lewis, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Slim Gaillard, Bam Brown, (more)
