The movie is effective as long as it sticks to the movie "Rain" script that it is adapted from. Unfortunately when it strays, it becomes pointless and dull. I suspect that director Spenser Williams didn't want to offend his audience with a portrayal of a Reverend lusting after a prostitute. Franchette Everett is excellent as Gertie. She brings the type of sensuality to the film that really lifts it up. It is a shame that she was not given more song and dance numbers. Franchette was called the most beautiful woman in Harlem and should have been a big star in Hollywood, but she refused to take racist roles.
10 Reviews
"Nobody tells me what to do. I tell them".
classicsoncall9 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Somehow it didn't sound believable when Gertie La Rue told her pal - "Don't worry honey, I'm through with all men". More like 'I'm through with them for tonight, time to get some rest'.
Apparently Gertie (Francine Everett) was on the run from Harlem and an abusive relationship, landing on the island of Rinidad (not a typo) where she's welcomed for a musical revue at Diamond Joe's Paradise Hotel. In tow are members of her entourage and a couple of boys in uniform who shower Gertie with affection and the materialistic things she loves - rings, diamonds and jewelry.
One can't help feel there's an ominous shadow following Gertie around on the island, as a piano player from her past is forbidden to play one of her old tunes, and her lifestyle comes under attack by the self righteous Jonathan Christian, a holy roller if I ever saw one who practically convulses when he sees Gertie delve into her act. Christian vows to get her off the island, and isn't above striking her after interfering with her rather innocent strip tease. At least innocent enough for this flick, she only got her elbow length gloves off before the good Christian caused a scene.
Directed by Spenser Williams, I'm still scratching my head over his own role in the film as Old Hager, a fortune teller dressed as a woman, but with a decidedly masculine voice. There was a hint of voodoo in his characterization, but the picture never really went in that direction. When the abusive 'Al' from Harlem arrived, he put an end to Gertie's flirtations in a rather permanent way, a somewhat shocking ending I must say, considering the breezy feel of the picture up till that final moment.
Apparently Gertie (Francine Everett) was on the run from Harlem and an abusive relationship, landing on the island of Rinidad (not a typo) where she's welcomed for a musical revue at Diamond Joe's Paradise Hotel. In tow are members of her entourage and a couple of boys in uniform who shower Gertie with affection and the materialistic things she loves - rings, diamonds and jewelry.
One can't help feel there's an ominous shadow following Gertie around on the island, as a piano player from her past is forbidden to play one of her old tunes, and her lifestyle comes under attack by the self righteous Jonathan Christian, a holy roller if I ever saw one who practically convulses when he sees Gertie delve into her act. Christian vows to get her off the island, and isn't above striking her after interfering with her rather innocent strip tease. At least innocent enough for this flick, she only got her elbow length gloves off before the good Christian caused a scene.
Directed by Spenser Williams, I'm still scratching my head over his own role in the film as Old Hager, a fortune teller dressed as a woman, but with a decidedly masculine voice. There was a hint of voodoo in his characterization, but the picture never really went in that direction. When the abusive 'Al' from Harlem arrived, he put an end to Gertie's flirtations in a rather permanent way, a somewhat shocking ending I must say, considering the breezy feel of the picture up till that final moment.
Weak tea, but had its moments
gbill-7487713 July 2022
"I got a sugar daddy, a sailor, a marine, and a preacher man, if I want to take the time to work on him."
Amateurish acting and weak production value mar this 1946 film from director Spencer Williams. It's a spin on the W. Somerset Maugham story 'Rain' that old film fans may recognize from Sadie Thompson (1928) and Rain (1932), though here the story is altered and it unfortunately plays out like a misogynistic morality tale. Dirty Gertie, you see, is a stripper from Harlem who has a habit of stringing men along, and she's fled to a tropical island with her troupe because she fears getting murdered by her ex-boyfriend. There she meets a slew of male admirers, but runs afoul of a moralizing missionary.
While the film was awfully creaky, there was nothing amateurish about July Jones and Howard Galloway dancing, and their opening act to Dirty Gertie (Francine Everett) was worth the price of admission. Everett is beautiful and certainly appealing, but there wasn't much sizzle to her character, setting aside the scene where she kisses two men that she's dubbed "Big Boy" and "Tight Pants" after a night out. I liked the moment where she hears "Blues in the Night" being played and is haunted by memories, but there wasn't enough of this kind of emotional depth. Also, I have to say, it was an odd choice for Spencer Williams to play the voodoo woman, at least without shaving his mustache, even if it was interesting to see him.
Amateurish acting and weak production value mar this 1946 film from director Spencer Williams. It's a spin on the W. Somerset Maugham story 'Rain' that old film fans may recognize from Sadie Thompson (1928) and Rain (1932), though here the story is altered and it unfortunately plays out like a misogynistic morality tale. Dirty Gertie, you see, is a stripper from Harlem who has a habit of stringing men along, and she's fled to a tropical island with her troupe because she fears getting murdered by her ex-boyfriend. There she meets a slew of male admirers, but runs afoul of a moralizing missionary.
While the film was awfully creaky, there was nothing amateurish about July Jones and Howard Galloway dancing, and their opening act to Dirty Gertie (Francine Everett) was worth the price of admission. Everett is beautiful and certainly appealing, but there wasn't much sizzle to her character, setting aside the scene where she kisses two men that she's dubbed "Big Boy" and "Tight Pants" after a night out. I liked the moment where she hears "Blues in the Night" being played and is haunted by memories, but there wasn't enough of this kind of emotional depth. Also, I have to say, it was an odd choice for Spencer Williams to play the voodoo woman, at least without shaving his mustache, even if it was interesting to see him.
Dirty Gertie
gimhoff3 June 2009
Dirty Gertie drinks, flirts heavily, and takes expensive jewelry from men. She's the heroine of the movie, but she's tarnished, and her doom is foreshadowed many times. The movie has the structure of many black musical films, leading up to a big revue in a nightclub at the end, but those expectations are frustrated. The revue consists only of the dancing of the chorus line, credited as "6 Harlem beauties," and a short dance number by July Jones and Howard Galloway.
Even more frustrating is that Francine Everett, though she was known as a singer and dancer, doesn't sing at all in the movie. She dances only a few steps early in the plot, and in the nightclub revue she only sways a bit as she removes her over-the-elbow gloves at the start of a sadly interrupted striptease.
The oddest thing in the movie, however, is director's Spencer Williams' casting of himself in a cameo role as "Old Hagar," the crystal-globe-reading fortune teller. Williams plays the role in drag, dressed in a house dress and head wrap, but he wears his mustache and speaks in a deep, masculine voice. He doesn't play it for comedy, yet it's hard to say he's playing it straight. Did Williams just step in for an actress who didn't show up for filming that day (that's the sort of thing that happened in making very low budget black movies), or is the explanation something stranger?
Even more frustrating is that Francine Everett, though she was known as a singer and dancer, doesn't sing at all in the movie. She dances only a few steps early in the plot, and in the nightclub revue she only sways a bit as she removes her over-the-elbow gloves at the start of a sadly interrupted striptease.
The oddest thing in the movie, however, is director's Spencer Williams' casting of himself in a cameo role as "Old Hagar," the crystal-globe-reading fortune teller. Williams plays the role in drag, dressed in a house dress and head wrap, but he wears his mustache and speaks in a deep, masculine voice. He doesn't play it for comedy, yet it's hard to say he's playing it straight. Did Williams just step in for an actress who didn't show up for filming that day (that's the sort of thing that happened in making very low budget black movies), or is the explanation something stranger?
One of the better Spencer Williams films is still tough going
dbborroughs18 August 2007
Well known showgirl goes on the run and ends up on a small island hiding out with her band until things blow over. However she just can't give up her wild life style.
Spencer Williams, one of the few black directors of the period is at the helm here and while he turned out a great many films he wasn't a very good director. Actors are arranged in almost tableaux and the scripts are rather poor. Williams also tends to have the camera in one place with little variation. You have to give the man credit for the large number of films he turned out, but you really will wish he was a better filmmaker
As Williams movies go this film was better than most however its still a chore to get through, owing to the fact that the .
Spencer Williams, one of the few black directors of the period is at the helm here and while he turned out a great many films he wasn't a very good director. Actors are arranged in almost tableaux and the scripts are rather poor. Williams also tends to have the camera in one place with little variation. You have to give the man credit for the large number of films he turned out, but you really will wish he was a better filmmaker
As Williams movies go this film was better than most however its still a chore to get through, owing to the fact that the .
dirty gertie
mossgrymk10 August 2022
Best movie ever made (in this category)
fredfredrikfreddyfred19 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Francine Everett is so hot at this time. Just oozing sexiness. I really wished they had shown more of her stripping act. She was so smooth how she would flirt with the men. It was sad she got killed in the end. All the people in it were interesting and cool except for the preacher.
I would recommend this to everyone who has soul.
I would recommend this to everyone who has soul.
one of the last films of Spenser Williams Jr.
bernardhaines5725 July 2004
Spenser Williams Jr. Is more familiar to people as Andy Brown of the old NBC TV. show AMOS AND ANDY. But prior to his television role he was a seasoned Writer,Actor,Director and Producer of All Black films. He had directed Midnight Shadow,Son of Engagi,The Blood of Jesus,Marching On,Go Down Death,The Girl in Room 20, Juke Joint,Dirty Gertie From Harlem U.S.A. and others. Gertie LaRue[Francine Everret] is on the run from her boyfriend in Harlem and hides on an Island,her acting company are forced to go with her,her flirting causes problems for the group,she becomes a source of temptation to the men of the Island. The film though entertaining attempts to tell a morality Tale which would discourage young Black Girls from following Gerti's example. Spenser Williams tells the story well. The acting was good but,could have been better. Transition,dialogue and action were very good. A lot of show packed into 60 minutes. A very good film.
Film Buffs Might Want to Watch It
Michael_Elliott4 November 2012
Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. (1946)
** (out of 4)
W. Somerset Maugham's story "Miss Thompson" was often turned into a feature by Hollywood but this version here comes from director Spencer Williams and it has him once again taking a very low-budget and turning out a "race" picture. The film centers on Gertie LaRue (Francine Everett), a singer who comes to work at a small club but soon her past is going to catch up with her. DIRTY GERTIE FROM HARLEM U.S.A. features a terrific title but sadly it's yet another example of a black production simply not having the money to compete with not only Hollywood but even the lowest budgeted movie out there. I watch a lot of really, really low-budget horror movies and I'm really not sure I've ever seen one that had a lower budget than what Williams and countless other "race" picture directors had to work with. It's clear that they couldn't afford too many takes as there are several scenes where actors mess up but keep on going. There's even a very long sequence where a boom mic is visible and in a rather embarrassing way as it's floating around the top of the screen from left to right. The film also doesn't have much camera movement and there are other technical problems along the way. With that said, I think film buffs will be slightly entertained simply because it is something different than what the major studios were turning out at the time. At just 60-minutes the film moves along well enough and while the story is nothing special I thought it was at least entertaining. Star Everett, who was considered the most beautiful woman in Harlem, had a pretty interesting life and her performance here is worth watching the film for. Director Williams appears here playing a female psychic yet there's never an attempt for him to "look" or sound like a woman.
** (out of 4)
W. Somerset Maugham's story "Miss Thompson" was often turned into a feature by Hollywood but this version here comes from director Spencer Williams and it has him once again taking a very low-budget and turning out a "race" picture. The film centers on Gertie LaRue (Francine Everett), a singer who comes to work at a small club but soon her past is going to catch up with her. DIRTY GERTIE FROM HARLEM U.S.A. features a terrific title but sadly it's yet another example of a black production simply not having the money to compete with not only Hollywood but even the lowest budgeted movie out there. I watch a lot of really, really low-budget horror movies and I'm really not sure I've ever seen one that had a lower budget than what Williams and countless other "race" picture directors had to work with. It's clear that they couldn't afford too many takes as there are several scenes where actors mess up but keep on going. There's even a very long sequence where a boom mic is visible and in a rather embarrassing way as it's floating around the top of the screen from left to right. The film also doesn't have much camera movement and there are other technical problems along the way. With that said, I think film buffs will be slightly entertained simply because it is something different than what the major studios were turning out at the time. At just 60-minutes the film moves along well enough and while the story is nothing special I thought it was at least entertaining. Star Everett, who was considered the most beautiful woman in Harlem, had a pretty interesting life and her performance here is worth watching the film for. Director Williams appears here playing a female psychic yet there's never an attempt for him to "look" or sound like a woman.
All Afro-American Cast, but not much fire
Sleepy-174 September 2002
Gertie is a flirty show-girl staying at an island resort, like Maugham's Sadie Thompson. Some interesting characterizations and encounters, but nothing of huge interest. Not nearly as striking as Spencer Williams' religious fantasy movies "Blood of Jesus" and "Go Down Death".
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