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Check and Double Check

Check and Double Check

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So its not an Oscar winner, who cares!
Review: Eric Wilson's rather bombastic review may be a bit too subjective. Although i do agree with many points in his review, i must condition my own review with the fact that most "genre" comedies in this era all fell into the same trap: Poor scripts and even poorer production value. Because of this, 'Check and Double Check' must get a bit of a break in the review dept. Yes, without question, the radio program was infinitely better and much funnier. Yes, the writing in this film is lacking at best, but this is a true classic in the history of Hollywood. I give 'Check and double Check' 3 stars on its historical value alone. The rare footage of Duke Ellington's orchestra is truly worth the low purchase price of the film. Although brief, it is a portal to a long lost era and the blossoming of popular jazz before America was ready to accept such "Black" or "Jungle" music, as it was so tactlessly labelled at the time. So, as it is, in my book, this is a valuable addition to any serious film buff's library. Of course it is a "poor" film. That is what makes it that much more of a novelty!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: priceless treasure
Review: much like most early cinema society is too dumb to realize the world has changed along with values, i remember getting complaints for customers when i worked at the lowly hollywood video because the films i shows were not in color or were dated, well anyway amos and andy are a historic milestone in cinema and should be appreciated if there were no amos and andy there certainly would be no honeymooners or flintstones or something that joe suburbia would know (sadly)the simpsons. and there is a great performance by the duke (ellington) dont judge unless you have seen the film pc nazi's

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: priceless treasure
Review: much like most early cinema society is too dumb to realize the world has changed along with values, i remember getting complaints for customers when i worked at the lowly hollywood video because the films i shows were not in color or were dated, well anyway amos and andy are a historic milestone in cinema and should be appreciated if there were no amos and andy there certainly would be no honeymooners or flintstones or something that joe suburbia would know (sadly)the simpsons. and there is a great performance by the duke (ellington) dont judge unless you have seen the film pc nazi's

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Appallingly Reminiscent of Old Minstrel Shows
Review: My husband was interested in getting a copy of old Amos & Andy T.V. shows. By mistake we ordered this video--a film starring two white men in black face. This is utterly disgusting. We are completely offended and saddened by the easy availability of a past that is very far from art--it is mockery at the expense of African-Americans. We are returning the video--alas, it has been opened, but we do not want it in our home!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Issues of Political Correctness Aside
Review: Okay, everybody who has any interest in A&A knows about it being started by two White men (Gosden and Correll) in Blackface and later hiring real Black actos for the 12950s TV show. With that said, on to the movie itself.

Simply put, it's not that good by any standards. There are a few midly amusing minutes of A&A doing some of their standard schtick such as "Mulsifyin and Revidin" and "Phone Call to Ruby" (as well as the tire changing routine that would later appear on the TV show). But aisde from this and the priceless footage of the Duke Ellington Band, FORGET IT! This early sound film is as dry as toast! A draggy love story not involving the prinicipal characters also helps slow things down like molasses in January. This film was so bad that even Gosden and Correll themselves have gone on record as dismissing it as junk and Charles Correll's son has recently said that his father hated it so much that he forbade his son from watching it! He had a smart daddy.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Issues of Political Correctness Aside
Review: Okay, everybody who has any interest in A&A knows about it being started by two White men (Gosden and Correll) in Blackface and later hiring real Black actos for the 12950s TV show. With that said, on to the movie itself.

Simply put, it's not that good by any standards. There are a few midly amusing minutes of A&A doing some of their standard schtick such as "Mulsifyin and Revidin" and "Phone Call to Ruby" (as well as the tire changing routine that would later appear on the TV show). But aisde from this and the priceless footage of the Duke Ellington Band, FORGET IT! This early sound film is as dry as toast! A draggy love story not involving the prinicipal characters also helps slow things down like molasses in January. This film was so bad that even Gosden and Correll themselves have gone on record as dismissing it as junk and Charles Correll's son has recently said that his father hated it so much that he forbade his son from watching it! He had a smart daddy.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not too funny Amos & Andy Film
Review: Racial issues aside, this 1930 film featuring radio's Amos &Andy (not to be confused with the Black actors who later appeared on television's version) in Blackface was so bad that even Freeman Godsen and Charles Correll who starred in the film hated it. While G&c are fairly convincing as Black men (except for the haunted house scenes when their blue eyes stand out), the dialougue, story, and action are all woefully unfunny. The "mulsifyin' and revidin" routine is fairly amusing and Duke Ellington's band briefly lightens the load, but other than that, G&C wisely chose to stay on the radio.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bad but Fascinating
Review: Since I only have seen 3 other reviews, it appears this is not
a very popular item. Since it could NEVER be on television, the
only way to see it is to rent it or buy it as I did. I agree with the other reviewers that it is not funny and it's entertainment value is minimal. But it is Historically/Sociologically fascinating. That a film could be
made with characters in Blackface. That a musical genius like
Duke Ellington would appear in a film like this (I presume for
the money, it was the depression). It was also interesting the
way Amos and Andy interacted with whites. To my knowledge there
were never any whites on the radio or televison show (I am old
enough to have seen the latter), they and the other characters
lived in a self-contained African-American World. The fact that
they refered to how well their late boss Mr. Williams paternalistically (sp?) cared for them in Georgia, referring to
his son as Mr. Richard shows the characters written as having
the child-like subserviant role to whites which was then expected. Well to sum up, if you expect to laugh, forget it.
If you want to see a glimpse of what white society thought of blacks 72 years ago and as a previous reviewer wrote see a young
Duke Ellington and his orchaestra this is a very rare opportunity. Its like a car wreck, it's disturbing but it holds
your attention.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great and Glorious Time
Review: The characters in Amos and Andy cross any racial barriers artificially imposed on in today's Politically Correct times. The humor is priceless and the scenarios are as real today as they were then. So you don't like Lightnin'? Tough! He is an integral part of the "team" and an invaluable asset to the show. Bravo for those who brought this wonderful show back to life!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Light Hearted Fun
Review: this movie is really funny!!!!!!


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