Check and Double Check (1930)

Typical Amos 'n Andy storyline has the boys trying to make a go of their "open-air" taxi business while they get caught up in a society hassle, involving driving musicians to a fancy party.... See full summary »

Director:

Melville W. Brown (as Melville Brown)

Writers:

Bert Kalmar (story/dialogue), Harry Ruby (story/dialogue)

Stars:

Freeman F. Gosden, Charles J. Correll, Sue Carol

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Freeman F. Gosden	...	Amos
Charles J. Correll	...	Andy
Sue Carol	...	Jean Blair
Irene Rich	...	Mrs. Blair
Ralf Harolde	...	Ralph Crawford
Charles Morton	...	Richard Williams (as Charles S. Morton)
Edward Martindel	...	John Blair
Rita La Roy	...	Elinor Crawford (as Rita LaRoy)
Russ Powell	...	Kingfish
Roscoe Ates	...	Brother Arthur (as Rosco Ates)
Duke Ellington Orchestra	...	The Cotton Club Orchestra (as The Cotton Club Orchestra)

Storyline

Typical Amos 'n Andy storyline has the boys trying to make a go of their "open-air" taxi business while they get caught up in a society hassle, involving driving musicians to a fancy party. All the regular characters are here (or mentioned), including the famous Mystic Knights of the Sea. The only film appearance of radio's long-running characters.

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Plot Keywords:

amos and andy characters | four word title | big band | african american | new york city | 

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Taglines:

We can tell you all about it, but what's the use- you'll see it anyway! (Print Ad-Turtle Mountain Star, ((Rolla, N.D.)) 26 March 1931)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Двойна проверка

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker, as The Rhythm Boys, are heard on the soundtrack singing "Three Little Words", three African-American men are seen on the screen, supposedly doing the vocalizing, with megaphones disguising their lip movements so that there would not be a synchronization problem.

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Quotes

Amos: [on the phone with his girlfriend] Hello, Ruby - - dis here is Amos.
Andy: Da guy wid da EGG-SHAPED HEAD.
Amos: [absent-mindedly repeating what Andy just said] Da guy wid da egg-shaped head - - I mean, I mean - - sorry, Ruby... hold da phone a sec. Andy, will you please leeme 'lone? You is getting me messed up. Sorry 'bout that, hunny - - Andy got me messed up dere... Oh, yeah, Ruby... I LIKES to dance wid YOU -...
Andy: [in a casual monotone] Da gal wid da BIG FEET.
Amos: [...]

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Connections

Featured in Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny! (2003)

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Soundtracks

Three Little Words
(Trois Petits Mots)
Music by Harry Ruby
English lyrics by Bert Kalmar
French lyrics by André Hornez
Performed by Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker with the Duke Ellington Orchestra

User Reviews

An impressive entry when seen through 1930 eyes

Well, I just picked up an original film print of CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK and have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. After many years of reading one abysmal review after another, I found the film to be a fairly impressive RKO comedy. But I also think this film can only be viewed in the context of its time of release. And not for racial stereotype reasons. First, the film obviously came about by the strong popularity of the AMOS 'N ANDY radio program. However, comparison cannot be made between the film and the program as we know it because the program only began a year before this film was made (Amos 'n Andy had, in fact, had recently been known as Sam 'n Henry). So the smooth, well-oiled manner of the 40's heyday was still many years to come. Structure-wise, CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK somewhat resembles RKO's popular Wheeler and Woolsey films and features the two comics in traditional musical-comedy leading/though supporting roles. The story plot is very typical of shows of the day - DIXIANA, COCOANUTS, etc (Ralf Harolde repeats his villainous visage from DIXIANA). The picture is very well photographed from the standpoint of RKO's current production values and it is very well recorded. One interesting note - one that can only be gleaned from having an actual film print - is that the picture was released in nine reels. Given that the running time is 77 minutes, it is probable that there was some trimming done after the previews. An interesting note about the music in the film. Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra are the featured performers. At one point in the film there is a very bluesy, Harlemesque introduction to a number. But the film then cuts to a shot of the band playing "Three Little Words" in standard foxtrot tempo. Upon this number's conclusion, the band goes into a blues number. We then go outside to the garden where a scene between the romantic leads is played and the band is again heard in the distance playing "Three Litte Words". The duo even comment on the song and its meaning. It is apparent there was some moving around of sequences taking place here. And it's possible there was additional music recorded that did not make it into the final release print. As for Amos 'n Andy, there is a nice mix of verbal and visual set-pieces. There is also one surprisingly effective scene where Amos 'n Andy are told that their former employer/benefactor has died and Andy makes a very sorrowful speech about his goodness. It's one of the most genuinely emotional monologues I can recall from any RKO film of that very early talkie period. The one semi-drawback to the film is that Freeman Gosden (Andy) is not able to play Kingfish as he did on radio. In CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK, Kingfish is played by Russ Powell (in blackface - as are many others in the cast including at least one band member and stuttering comic Roscoe Ates). Film fans will remember Powell as the dockman at the beginning of KING KONG ("You going' on that crazy voyage?!"). Powell doesn't have quite the delightful devil about him that Gosden did in his portrayal of Kingfish on the radio - or Tim Moore on television. Had CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK been made six or seven years later, it might have had more polish and pacing. But even by the mid-thirties it is unlikely that a blacked-up Amos 'N Andy would have been welcomed in the cinemas. So we have only this one feature as a pictorialization of the proprietors of the Fresh Air Taxi Cab Corporation. If you can put yourself back into a 1930 frame of reference, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.