Customer Reviews

Check and Double Check: Amos 'N' Andy DVD -R

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have read reviews of the Amos and Andy video and as an African American man born in 1955 I find the reactions to the effort interesting. It amazes me that people find so much fault with the characterizations in the film yet they do not object to later efforts where blacks characters were caricaturized using unflaterring stereotypes. Another thing I find interesting is the complete lack of recognition of more positive black characters in the Amos and Andy series, including but not limited to judges, police officers, doctors, nurses and businessmen. Whether we like to admit it or not, there were individuals in society during the period that behaved in the fashion portrayed in the series. I find it amusing since I happened to know some people during my childhood who behaved in such fashion, they happened to be some of the most intelligent and skilled elders I recall. When they spoke to me as a child they made it clear that they used how they were percieved to their advantage. I would also like to know what all those complaining about the series and the images portrayed have to say about how southern whites were portrayed in the Andy Griffith series and other series of a similar genre.

Of course negative stereotyping is not a good thing, but I believe the series should be able to be viewed by those who enjoy it and would hope that they are intelligent enough to realize that all people of a specific ethnicity do not behave in a prescribed manner based on something developed for entertainment value. I am a veteran, I believe in the constitution and the right of myself and others to view and enjoy what I like, not based on what someone else thinks.

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!

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!

Yes, the movie is [bad]. The comedy is embarrassing where it isn't hopelessly lame. The characters are the worst stereotypes of African-Americans, ranging from the stooping pickaninny to the stiftless bum to the slack-jawed moron.

However ... if you're into vintage jazz, "Check and Double-Check" gives a chance to see the young Duke Ellington just as he and his Famous Orchestra was bursting onto the national scene. Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, and other sidemen are astonishingly young and vigorous. The music isn't as subtle or interesting as it would become when Billy Strayhorn joined the band, it's wonderful nonetheless.

Very few African-American performers made it into white movies in those days; the only exception I can think of is Cab Calloway's singing "Reefer Man" in the W. C. Fields comedy "International House". We have to take it where we can find it.

So, the movie is [bad], but it has some moments that are pure gold.

This is light-hearted comedy! I laughed because it was funny which it is. Get over it!

We might as well get this part out of the way first; what we have here are the original (read: played by white guys) Amos and Andy, which means BLACKFACE. In spite of what you might have heard, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll weren't the most offensive purveyors of this type of entertainment, and in fact gave about as much wit and (occasionally) dignity to their characters as their now non-PC mode of presentation would allow. That's not why this movie rates so low; it's a bottom-dweller because it's a comedy that isn't funny.

Forget about the TV series, this wasn't even on par with what they were doing on the RADIO around the same time. What entertainment can be gotten today out of the Amos and Andy radio series of the time came from Gosden and Correll's scripts, so it's a little bit disconcerting to see they didn't get a crack at writing the movie. So instead of the carefully crafted (albeit in dialect) characters they were presenting on the radio six nights a week, they surrender control to some Hollywood hacks who were still learning to write dialogue themselves.

Another thing which couldn't have gone over too well at the time: It's their movie and they're only supporting characters! While Amos and Andy have a few tired and badly staged segments to themselves, the "plot" is carried by the godawful "boy-meets-girl, boy almost loses girl" wheeze that had cobwebs on it even THEN. I have to wonder how the audiences of the time felt to go to THE ONE AND ONLY "Amos and Andy" movie and find out that they'd paid to see another bland romance.

Like most early talkies, the film itself is mostly stagebound with cameras locked into place for most of the shots Duke Ellington's Orchestra plays a few numbers, but that's about it.

Amos and Andy (the characters) are seen to better effect in the TV series (or better yet, the recreations of the early 30s radio shows that have been making the rounds lately). "Check and Double Check" is a strong recommendation to avoid unless you're deeply into film history.

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.

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

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.

This is the first time I have ever experience the classic black comedians of all time. This is an experience I will never forget.