A low-level gangster determines to let nothing stand in the way of his gaining control of the numbers rackets in Harlem.A low-level gangster determines to let nothing stand in the way of his gaining control of the numbers rackets in Harlem.A low-level gangster determines to let nothing stand in the way of his gaining control of the numbers rackets in Harlem.
Photos
Sam McDaniel
- Jack Jackson
- (as Sam McDaniels)
Arthur Adams
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Everett Brown
- Numbers Banker
- (uncredited)
Jack Clisby
- Butch Williams
- (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen
- Henchman
- (uncredited)
Roy Glenn
- Harry Patton
- (uncredited)
Jack Lincy
- Harry
- (uncredited)
Morgan Roberts
- Pool Hall Patron
- (uncredited)
Clinton Rosemond
- Ben Jones
- (uncredited)
Nick Stewart
- Pete
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was the first all-black film produced in Hollywood.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Watermelon Woman (1996)
Featured review
Ralph Cooper stars as a small-time punk muscling his way to the top of a numbers racket in Harlem, in a story similar to the classics "The Public Enemy (1931)" and "Little Caesar(1931)." Although Cooper was a talented top black actor in "race" films (intended for black audiences), he lacked the dynamic qualities that James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson brought to those two classics. Still, I enjoyed the movie knowing it was the first all-black movie made in Hollywood, and because it had good actors except for the female love interest, Cleo Herndon, who seemed a bit poor except for her singing. Perhaps that is why she never made another film.
On a humorous note, Ossie Davis, who introduced the film on the Turner Classic Movies Channel, mentioned the movie broke all attendance records at the Apollo theater in Harlem because overflow crowds were shunted to a theater two blocks away. Since there was only one print, each reel had to be rewound and rushed to the other theater.
On a humorous note, Ossie Davis, who introduced the film on the Turner Classic Movies Channel, mentioned the movie broke all attendance records at the Apollo theater in Harlem because overflow crowds were shunted to a theater two blocks away. Since there was only one print, each reel had to be rewound and rushed to the other theater.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $24,900 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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