This film is part of Rentals
Kentucky Minstrels
Rarely-seen 1930s British musical about two African American travelling minstrels in search of entertainment work.
Musical 1934 66 mins Not rated
Director: John Baxter
Overview
African American minstrel double act Mott and Bayley are hugely popular in the UK, but with little warning, the work dries up and the two performing pals are forced to travel the country in search of their next gig. This rarely-seen British musical stars African American music hall performers Harry Scott and Eddie Whaley in the lead roles.
Directed by John Baxter, the film captures the success of Scott and Whaley's massively popular radio show from the 1930s - they were the first black performers to take star billing in a British film. Alas, the film is slightly incomplete and the star turn by singer Nina Mae McKinney is missing. Note too, the fact that Scott and Whaley perform in full blackface make-up during their routines as Cuthbert and Pussyfoot.
Related
Musical
Ziegfeld Follies Ziegfeld Follies
Musical 1944 110 mins Director: Vincente Minnelli
Many of MGM's leading talents assemble for the most spectacular of the Broadway revues.
Girl Crazy Girl Crazy
Musical 1943 99 mins Director: Norman Taurog
Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney star in the second adaptation of George Gershwin's musical following a playboy's exploits in the wild West.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Musical 2001 92 mins Director: John Cameron Mitchell
The trailblazing cult musical about a transgender punk from East Germany who reinvents herself as a rock diva.
Singin' in the Rain Singin' in the Rain
Comedy 1951 103 mins Director: Gene Kelly
Hollywood’s troubled transition from silent to talking pictures at the end of the 1920s provided the inspiration for this greatest of movie musicals.
Cabin in the Sky Cabin in the Sky
Musical 1943 99 mins Director: Vincente Minnelli
Featuring an all-star, all-African-American cast, Cabin in the Sky plays like a gospel reworking of Faust and the Wizard of Oz.
Hit the Deck Hit the Deck
Comedy 1954 112 mins Director: Roy Rowland
Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds lead an all-star cast in this memorable maritime musical.
Musicals!
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
Musical 1985 90 mins Director: Alan Clarke
Alan Clarke’s once derided feature is surely the only vampire snooker musical in cinema history and a genuine cult artefact ripe for rediscovery.
First a Girl First a Girl
Comedy 1936 92 mins Director: Victor Saville
Sparkling musical comedy about a shop girl who pretends to be a boy in order to perform on stage as a female impersonator.
I've Gotta Horse I've Gotta Horse
Musical 1965 92 mins Director: Kenneth Hume
Great British rock and roller Billy Fury buys himself a racehorse in this colourful musical for all the family.
Beat Girl Beat Girl
Drama 1959 87 mins Director: Edmond T. Gréville
A cult classic British film about late-fifties youth-rebellion set against an intoxicating Beatnik backdrop.
Expresso Bongo Expresso Bongo
Drama 1960 111 mins Director: Val Guest
Val Guest's 1959 London-shot Brit Beat classic charts the fortunes of aspiring musician Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard)
The Flame of Love The Flame of Love
Melodrama 1930 75 mins Director: Richard Eichberg
Chinese-American star Anna May Wong dazzles as a Chinese dancer forced to give herself to a Russian General in order to save her brother.
Directed by John Baxter
Love on the Dole Love on the Dole
Drama 1941 98 mins Director: John Baxter
Deborah Kerr gives an impassioned turn as a woman who sells herself in order to save her family from poverty in Salford.
New
Men of Hard Skin Men of Hard Skin
Drama 2019 95 mins Director: José Celestino Campusano
A history of abuse is uncovered in this provocative and challenging coming-of-age drama from Argentina.
Pin Cushion Pin Cushion
Drama 2017 82 mins Director: Deborah Haywood
Lyn (Joanna Scanlan) and Iona (Lily Newmark) are excited to be starting afresh in a new town, but trouble comes along when Iona becomes besties with the local mean girls.
Permission Permission
Drama 2018 88 mins Director: Soheil Beiraghi
Powerful and piercing story of an Iranian Futsal star who is refused permission from her husband to attend an international tournament.
The Amazing Johnathan Documentary The Amazing Johnathan Documentary
Documentary 2019 91 mins Director: Benjamin Berman
A fascinating documentary about the famed comic-magician John Edward Szeles as he makes a surprising comeback.
Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life
Documentary 2018 106 mins Director: Tomer Heymann
The private life of a renowned gay porn legend is laid bare in this intimate and insightful documentary.
The Dead Don't Die The Dead Don't Die
Horror 2019 104 mins Director: Jim Jarmusch
Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Tilda Swinton lead this star-studded, bonkers addition to the zombie canon from cult director Jim Jarmusch.