Harlem Is Heaven

Bill Robinson dances -- including his famous dance on triangular steps -- Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle perform. That's most of a good movie there, and for the approximately half of the movie that is pure musical presentation, it's a fine movie. Unfortunately, the other half of the movie is nowhere near as good.

Anise Boyer needs a job. She gets one at the night club run by James Baskett. His money comes from policy, with various sidelines including stock swindles. He explains to Miss Boyer that he is very generous with loyal people, and he defines that as those who never say no to him. Soon enough, she wants to say no, but needs one of two men to do so: either Robinson, or Henri Wessell.

It's a good script for a Pre-Code, but as often happens in movies made with Black performers for the Black movie theaters -- the term was 'Race Films' -- the line readings are poor. Even the performers who would do well for themselves in Hollywood films (Robinson, of course, and Baskett would win an Oscar for SONG OF THE SOUTH) sound like they're reading their lines off the script. It's money and time; no time for rehearsals, no money for retakes. Even so, when Robinson is dancing, I'm forced to agree that Harlem is indeed heaven.