Enjoy the Show! _______________________ I Believe all media should be enjoyed ______________________ So here is a classic! _______________________ Title: Check and Double Check Year: 1930 Director: Melville W. Brown Production Company: RKO Radio Pictures Genre: Comedy, Musical, Race Film Runtime: Approximately 77 minutes Language: English Country: United States Format: Black and White Sound: Mono Public Domain Status: Yes Cast: Freeman F. Gosden as Amos Charles J. Correll as Andy Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra Irene Rich as Mrs. Blair Gale Page as Jean Blair Sue Carol as Alice Ralf Harolde as Richard Williams Plot Summary: Check and Double Check is the first and only film featuring the radio comedy duo Amos ‘n’ Andy, portrayed by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who also created the characters for their massively popular radio show. The film is a light comedy that revolves around Amos and Andy operating a taxicab company. Their cab company, the "Fresh Air Taxi Company of America, Inc.," becomes involved in a complicated plot involving missing persons, mistaken identity, a love triangle, and high society drama. The story centers around the duo trying to help their employer reunite with her daughter and win the approval of the social elite. Along the way, they get tangled in a series of misunderstandings and comedic situations. The film culminates in a musical performance featuring Duke Ellington and his orchestra, which is widely regarded as the film’s most historically important segment. Notable Elements: Features a performance by Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra, marking one of the earliest appearances of a Black jazz band in a Hollywood feature. Amos and Andy were voiced by white actors on radio who performed in blackface for the film, reflecting both the racial stereotypes and minstrel traditions of the time—a major point of historical critique today. Though intended as a vehicle to bring the hugely successful radio show to the screen, the film did not perform well and remains controversial due to its use of blackface and racial caricatures. Historical Context: Released at the dawn of the sound era, Check and Double Check was one of RKO’s first major productions and an attempt to bring popular radio entertainment to the silver screen. The radio program Amos ‘n’ Andy was groundbreaking for its time in terms of format and national reach but is now heavily criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes. The film is a rare example of a 1930s major studio production showcasing an African American jazz band, though its progressive potential is overshadowed by its otherwise regressive racial portrayals. Trivia: Duke Ellington’s Role: Ellington insisted on a non-stereotypical presentation for his band, and his segment remains a highlight of the film, showcasing his early musical genius and paving the way for future jazz musicians in film. Blackface Controversy: Gosden and Correll, white performers, donned blackface for their roles, which was common in entertainment at the time but is now recognized as a deeply offensive practice. The film is often cited in academic discussions of blackface in American cinema. Lost Legacy: The film was not widely re-released or preserved with fanfare due to its racial content, though it entered the public domain and remains available largely for historical study. Radio Origins: Check and Double Check serves as a cinematic companion to the Amos ‘n’ Andy radio show, which was the first program to be broadcast nationwide on a regular schedule. One and Done: This was the only feature film to star Gosden and Correll as Amos and Andy. Due to the film's mixed reception and changing cultural tastes, no sequel was ever produced. Themes: Class and Social Mobility: The film plays with the theme of lower-class characters navigating the world of high society. Friendship and Loyalty: The central bond between Amos and Andy remains the core of the film’s heart and humor. _______________________ Thank you for watching — feel free to like, comment, and subscribe for more classic movies and other content that might be of interest. _______________________ #PublicDomain #PublicDomainMovies #ClassicMovies #FreeMovies #VintageMovies #RetroCinema #OldMovies #FullMovie #MovieNight #FreeToWatch #ClassicCinema #MovieLovers #CinemaHistory #FilmHistory #TimelessMovies #MustWatch #OldSchoolCinema #CultClassic #HiddenGems #NowPlaying #GoldenAgeOfCinema #MoviesOnline #WatchFree #ClassicHollywood #RetroMovies #PublicDomainFilm #FreeFilm #ClassicEntertainment #WatchNow #StreamingFree #MovieArchive #HistoricCinema #LegendaryMovies #FilmBuff #MovieBuff #IndependentCinema #ClassicAdventure #VintageFilm #OldSchoolMovies #ReliveTheClassics #PublicDomainCinema #TimelessClassics #CinematicTreasures #GoldenOldies #MovieClassics #RetroFilm #ClassicScreen #OldMovieNight #CinemaLovers