Up in the Air

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable and highly representative Monogram B-movie
Review: Ah, the joys of Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland. Darro was among Monogram Pictures' biggest drawing cards in 1940, before The East Side Kids became the studio's resident little tough guys. Frankie Darro often played jockeys and villains in major-studio movies, but his Monograms gave him more opportunities for his acting skills and comic flair (Monogram held on to him, in one capacity or another, for another 10 years).

"Up in the Air" is one of Darro's better outings and a typical Monogram feature, with presentable but not lavish production values, and a serviceable supporting cast dotted with some familiar faces. When a difficult diva dies mysteriously, radio-station pageboy Frankie and his pal Mantan keep one step ahead of the cops and try to identify the killer. The mystery is interesting enough, but there is a good deal of comedy and music to help the proceedings along. Marjorie Reynolds sings, the pop-eyed Moreland clowns and dances, and when Moreland goes into his famous "incomplete-sentence" comedy routine, his partner is none other than Frankie Darro in blackface, doing an extremely good imitation of Freeman Gosden (of "Amos 'n' Andy")! Serial fans will enjoy seeing Tristram Coffin and Lorna Gray (a/k/a Adrian Booth) in supporting roles.

Picture and sound are very good, from a fine 16mm print. This is a good one from Alpha's budget-price video line (the graphics on the packaging are superb), and B-movie fans and late-late-show viewers with long memories should enjoy this.