Minstrel Man

Aug 1 1944 N/A 1h 7m
Musical

Unusually elaborate for a PRC film, Minstrel Man is a lively musical drama built around the talents of veteran vaudevillian Benny Fields. The star is cast as Dixie Boy Johnson, who rises from the ranks of minstrel shows to become a top Broadway attraction. On the opening night of his greatest stage triumph, Dixie Boy's wife dies in childbirth. Profoundly shaken, he walks out of the show, leaving the baby to be raised by his showbiz pals Mae and Lasses White (Gladys George, Roscoe Karns). The kid grows up to be an attractive young woman named Caroline (Judy Clark), who follows in her dad's footsteps by billing herself as-that's right-Dixie Girl Johnson. This leads to a tearful reunion between Caroline and the father she'd long assumed to be dead. If Minstrel Man seems at times to be a dress rehearsal for Columbia's The Jolson Story (1946), it shouldn't surprising: the PRC film was directed by Joseph H. Lewis, who went on to helm Jolson Story's musical highlights.

Plot

The story of a singer in a minstrel show, from his career highs to the tragedies in his personal life.

Written by

Irwin Franklyn, Pierre Gendron, Martin Mooney

Directed by

Joseph H. Lewis, Edgar G. Ulmer

Cast

Benny Fields, Gladys George, Alan Dinehart

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

PRC

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 2 Oscars. 2 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
209
Average Rating
4.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA