Minstrel Man

Jan 2, 1944

1h 10m

★ 5.0

Overview

Unusually elaborate for a PRC film, Minstrel Man is a lively musical drama built around the talents of veteran vaudevillian Benny Fields. The star is cast as Dixie Boy Johnson, who rises from the ranks of minstrel shows to become a top Broadway attraction. On the opening night of his greatest stage triumph, Dixie Boy's wife dies in childbirth. Profoundly shaken, he walks out of the show, leaving the baby to be raised by his showbiz pals Mae and Lasses White (Gladys George, Roscoe Karns). The kid grows up to be an attractive young woman named Caroline (Judy Clark), who follows in her dad's footsteps by billing herself as-that's right-Dixie Girl Johnson. This leads to a tearful reunion between Caroline and the father she'd long assumed to be dead. If Minstrel Man seems at times to be a dress rehearsal for Columbia's The Jolson Story (1946), it shouldn't surprising: the PRC film was directed by Joseph H. Lewis, who went on to helm Jolson Story's musical highlights.

Genres

Music

Production Companies

PRC

Minstrel Man Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Dixie Boy Johnson

Benny Fields

Mae White

Gladys George

Lew Dunn

Alan Dinehart

Lasses White

Roscoe Karns

Bill Evans

Jerome Cowan

Caroline Jr.-16 years old

Judy Clark

Caroline Johnson

Molly Lamont

Singer

John Raitt

In a small Japanese town, Ko-Ko is appointed to the unenviable position of executioner. Knowing he must successfully perform before the appearance of the Mikado in a month's time, Ko-Ko finds a suitable victim in Nanki-Poo, who is distraught over his unrequited love for the maiden Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo agrees to sacrifice his life if he is allowed to spend his remaining days with Yum-Yum, who is betrothed to Ko-Ko.

5.8

Mammy

Mar 26, 1930

Mammy features Al Jolson as the star of a travelling minstrel show, appearing in cities and towns across the U.S. Jolson falls in love with an actress in the troupe (Lois Moran), but she loves another (Lowell Sherman). Sherman is shot onstage as part of a comedy bit, and it is assumed that Jolson is guilty of putting the bullet in the gun.

5.9

Wonder Bar

Mar 31, 1934

Harry and Inez are a dance team at the Wonder Bar. Inez loves Harry, but he is in love with Liane, the wife of a wealthy business man. Al Wonder and the conductor/singer Tommy are in love with Inez. When Inez finds out that Harry wants to leave Paris and is going to the USA with Liane, she kills him.

4.4

Bad Man of Deadwood

Sep 5, 1941

Roy and Gabby fight bad guys to save the town of Deadwood.

6.7

Modern Inventions

May 29, 1937

Donald Duck goes to a museum of modern inventions. After getting in without paying, he meets a robot butler who takes Donald's hat every time he sees him. Donald is very annoyed by this and magically fixes himself a new hat every time this happens and strolls on. Ignoring the sign not to touch it, Donald starts playing with a wrapping machine and ends up being wrapped himself. He also encounters and tries out a robot nursemaid and a fully automatic barber chair. They both don't do him much good.

0.0

Minstrel Man

Mar 2, 1977

Two black brothers in a traveling minstrel show in the early part of the twentieth century have two different goals. One brother is determined to succeed in a field that is dominated by white performers in blackface, and the other is a composer fighting to break away from the stereotypes associated with black minstrel performers.

6.8

The Devil's Envoys

Dec 5, 1942

At the end of the 15th century, a man and a woman, posing as traveling minstrels, are sent by the Devil to a castle to seduce its inhabitants.

1.0

David Harewood on Blackface

Jul 27, 2023

At its peak, The Black and White Minstrel Show was watched by a Saturday night audience of more than 20 million people. David Harewood goes on a mission to understand the roots of this strange, intensely problematic cultural form: where did the show come from, and what made it popular for so long? With the help of historians, actors and musicians, David uncovers how, at its core, blackface minstrelsy was simply an attempt to make racism into an art form - and can be traced back to a name and a date.

No Image Available

0.0

Africa F.O.B.

Sep 15, 1925

Monty Banks becomes a car salesman and is shifted to Africa to sell one to King Obogeegee.

0.0

The Grand Parade

Feb 2, 1930

No one suffered more magnificently in the early-talkie era than the inimitable Helen Twelvetrees. In Grand Parade, the actress is cast as Molly, the sweetheart of minstrel-show performer Jack Kelly. Rising to the top of his profession, Kelly plummets to the bottom thanks to his fondness for intoxicating beverages. Molly nurses and coddles Kelly back to health, giving nary a thought for her own comfort or happiness.

7.1

Ozzy Osbourne - Live at Budokan

Jun 22, 2002

This 2 hour video was recorded live at Budakan Hall in Tokyo, Japan on February 15, 2002. It features 14 classic tracks spanning Ozzy's career and also behind-the-scenes footage of The Osbournes In Japan. Known for biting the head off of a bat, bickering with his vulgarity-happy family on MTV, and being one of the icons of heavy metal music, Ozzy Osbourne is nothing less than a cultural treasure. 01) I Don't Know 02) That I Never Had 03) Believer 04) Junkie 05) Mr. Crowley 06) Gets Me Through 07) Suicide Solution 08) No More Tears 09) I Don't Want to Change The World 10) Road to Nowhere 11) Crazy Train 12) Mama, I'm Coming Home 13) Bark at the Moon 14) Paranoid

4.9

The Amorous Adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Apr 1, 1976

The film recounts the adventures of Don Quixote and Sanch Panza with love, music and eroticism.

8.2

Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel

Mar 7, 2002

Documentary examining the politics, music, and life of Tupac Shakur.

7.4

Roger Waters: In The Flesh - Live

Dec 18, 2000

Recorded on a single night in June 2000, In the Flesh is a thrilling live testament to the strength of Roger Waters's peculiar artistic vision. Backed by a crack ensemble of both fresh and seasoned players, the former Pink Floyd songsmith powers through Floyd classics, underserved relics, and highlights from his spotty solo career. [Chapters:] 01 Intro 02 In The Flesh 03 The Happiest Days Of Our Lives 04 Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) 05 Mother 06 Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert 07 Southampton Dock 08 Pigs On The Wing (Part 1) 09 Dogs 10 Welcome To The Machine 11 Wish You Were Here 12 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part 1-8) 13 Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun 14 Breathe (In The Air) 15 Time 16 Money 17 The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking (Part 11) 18 Perfect Sense (Part 1-2) 19 The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range 20 It's A Miracle 21 Amused To Death 22 Brain Damage 23 Eclipse 24 Comfortably Numb 25 Each Small Candle 26 Credits

7.1

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

Apr 27, 2007

A documentary on the influential musician Scott Walker.

No Image Available

0.0

Untitled Lil Tjay Documentary

Invalid Date

A feature-length exploration of rapper Lil Tjay.

0.0

Victory

Jun 6, 2025

Slick Rick's "Victory" is a thrilling visual album that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in the heart of London, this gripping 25-minute film stars Idris Elba and Nas, bringing a cinematic twist to Slick Rick’s iconic storytelling. With stunning visuals and an intense, suspenseful plot, Victory blends rap and film in a way you’ve never seen before.