Sheila Guyse Movies
- 1948
Its many production flaws aside, Miracle in Harlem is a pretty good example of the "all-black" films prevalent in the segregated 1940s. The story concerns a Harlem candy store that is taken over by a gang of crooks. Julie Weston (Sheila Guyse), stepdaughter of the store's elderly owner (Hilda Ofley), resists not only the takeover, but the amorous advances of the head crook's delinquent son (Lawrence Criner). When the ringleader Kenneth Freeman turns up dead, Julie finds herself the main suspect, but a series of unbelievable plot contrivances come to her rescue. Miracle in Harlem is worth seeing for the presence in the cast of Jack Carter, who 10 years earlier had starred in Orson Welles' all-black MacBeth, and Stepin Fetchit, who, after being banned from mainstream Hollywood productions for his stereotypical performances, goes through his time-tested "lazy" routines once more. Musical highlights include a number by the Juanita Hall Choir, led by the woman who'd later gain Broadway fame as Bloody Mary in South Pacific. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sheila Guyse, Stepin Fetchit, (more)
- 1947
As indicated by the title, Sepia Cinderella is an updated retelling of the classic fairy tale, featuring a cast of African-American performers. The "Cinderella" is this instance is a young man, played by Ruble Blakely. A struggling songwriter, Blakely scores an unexpected hit, then finds that he can't cope with success. He is brought down to earth by his faithful girlfriend (Sheila Guyse). Though produced by blacks for a predominantly black audience, Sepia Cinderella is strictly white-bread when honoring the conventional cliches. There's even the scene in which the hero must choose between a high-society debutante and the "regular" girl he left behind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Freddie Bartholomew, Ruble Blakey, (more)
Fans of TV's Amos 'N' Andy series ought to get a big kick out of the black-oriented musical Boy! What a Girl. The "girl" in question, a winsome lass named Bumpsie, is played by none other than Tim "Kingfish" Moore! The story concerns two fly-by-night Harlem producers (Elwood Smith, Duke Williams) who hope to produce a hit Broadway play. Our heroes manage to line up a potential backer, who agrees to bankroll the show only if another backer puts up half the money. The producers engage the services of a female impersonator (Tim Moore) to pose as the second backer-and as a result, they end up with the homeliest "leading lady" in show-biz history. The rest of the film is a vaudeville-style parade of such black specialty acts as the Sid Catlett Orchestra, the Slam Stewart Trio and Deek Watson's Brown Dots. Highlights include a startlingly suggestive dance routine by the International Jitterbugs and a drum solo by Gene Krupa, the only white member of the cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Moore, Elwood Smith, (more)
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