I have nothing new to add to the other reviews of Star of Midnight. It is a competent entertainment that closely resembles a Thin Man comedy mystery.
However, I would like to point out examples of casual racism that are contained in the movie. Not that I expect any changes to be made or aspersions to be cast, but simply to point them out as historical examples of the casual racism of the times.
Toward the end of the story the action converges on the apartment of the mysterious missing woman but the only person there is the Maid, who is African American, of course. Played by Libby Taylor, her lines consist of the usual tropes of Black language: "Ain't nobody here..."; "Yah, sir."; and "Ain't no HE in dare. He's a SHE." The lines are delivered with wide eyes and a flat affect.
Earlier in the movie two lines of the subtle racism that was a part of our language then were spoken. In one a character tries to thank William Powell's character saying, "You're a White man, Dal, that's nice of you." A few scenes later, Powell tells Ginger Rogers to make up her own mind by saying, "You're free, White, and twenty-one."
I think it bears repeating that I don't mean to suggest banning or de-listing this movie, but I do think it is important to be aware of these instances. Or to even use them teaching examples of how we were once so unthinking in our racism and change it!
However, I would like to point out examples of casual racism that are contained in the movie. Not that I expect any changes to be made or aspersions to be cast, but simply to point them out as historical examples of the casual racism of the times.
Toward the end of the story the action converges on the apartment of the mysterious missing woman but the only person there is the Maid, who is African American, of course. Played by Libby Taylor, her lines consist of the usual tropes of Black language: "Ain't nobody here..."; "Yah, sir."; and "Ain't no HE in dare. He's a SHE." The lines are delivered with wide eyes and a flat affect.
Earlier in the movie two lines of the subtle racism that was a part of our language then were spoken. In one a character tries to thank William Powell's character saying, "You're a White man, Dal, that's nice of you." A few scenes later, Powell tells Ginger Rogers to make up her own mind by saying, "You're free, White, and twenty-one."
I think it bears repeating that I don't mean to suggest banning or de-listing this movie, but I do think it is important to be aware of these instances. Or to even use them teaching examples of how we were once so unthinking in our racism and change it!