Lucky Ghost (1942)
An all-black horror comedy starring Mantan Moreland and sometimes partner (and straight man) F.E. Miller, Lucky Ghost is amusing low-brow fare that exploits the more base, stereotypical elements of old-time black life (chicken thievin', gamblin', runnin' from ghosteses) for laughs -- sort of like the BET of its day. Mantan and Miller win a house-cum-casino in a craps game, only to discover that the deceased former owners aren't too pleased that their old home is being used for "jitterbugging, jiving, and hullaballooing". I hate hullaballooing. The ghosts decide to scare everyone off by opening doors and windows, pulling out chairs, even playing the drums.
Released: Feb 10, 1942
Runtime: 61 minutes
Stars: Mantan Moreland, F.E. Miller, Maceo Bruce Sheffield, Arthur Ray, Florence O'Brien, Harold Garrison
Crew: William Beaudine (Director), Lex Neal (Writer), Vernon Smith (Writer), Jed Buell (Producer), Robert E. Cline (Director of Photography), Robert O. Crandall (Editor)