Beware
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Bud Pollard
Frank Wilson
Emory Richardson
Valerie Black
Milton Woods
Joseph Hilliard
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Ware College, a prestigious black university in Ohio founded by Benjamin Ware in 1867, is on the brink of financial collapse following a decision by Benjamin Ware, III, the greedy grandson of the late founder, to cut off the school's revenues. In a meeting, Dean Hargraves, Professor Drury and Annabelle Brown, a former student who is now a physical education instructor, agree that the young Ware has a complete disregard for the welfare of the school. Although Hargraves and Drury remind Annabelle that Ware may acting out of revenge for her refusal to marry him when they were classmates, neither blames her for the current troubles they face. Instead, they devise a plan to raise money for the school by holding a reception for graduates of the college to solicit them for donations. While poring over the roster of former students, Hargraves and Drury come across the name of Lucius Brokenshire Jordan, a student they both thought would surely not amount to anything. They also recall that Lucius was smitten with Annabelle and that the jealous Benjamin drove him out of town. Unknown to Hargraves and Drury, Lucius has become an American jazz sensation and is presently on a concert tour across the country. By coincidence, Lucius' train is delayed at Ware College, and he arrives at the school just as the reception gets underway. While the former students pour in from all over the country, Lucius and his band play music for them in one of the classrooms. The festive mood is soon broken, however, when Ware declares that their revenue-raising scheme is against the school rules. Ware then fires Hargraves and tries to blackmail Annabelle into marrying him. When Lucius learns of the situation, he quickly works to reverse the school's misfortune by holding a benefit concert. Lucius succeeds in raising the money needed to keep the school open and does so in time to prevent Annabelle's marriage to Ware. Lucius also exposes Ware's scheme to defraud the school of its rightful funds. Lucius leads the school in a musical celebration and then leaves town with Annabelle at his side.
Director
Bud Pollard
Cast
Frank Wilson
Emory Richardson
Valerie Black
Milton Woods
Joseph Hilliard
Tommy Hix
Charles Johnson
John Grant
Walter Earle
Ernest Calloway
Dimples Daniels
The "aristo-genes" Girls Club
Louis Jordan
William Davis
Joshua W. Jackson
Aaron Izenhall
Carl Hogan
Jesse Simpkins
Eddie Byrd
Crew
Berle Adams
Dick Adams
Fred Barber
Arthur Burns
William Davis
John Doran
Ervin Drake
Herman Fairbanks
Dan Fisher
John E. Gordon
Duke Groner
Walter Hicks
Irene Higginbotham
Bob Hilliard
Louis Jordan
Ed Kelly
Morry Lasco
Don Malkames
Dick Miles
Fleecie Moore
Frank Nemczy
Bud Pollard
Bud Pollard
Fred Ryle
R. M. Savini
R. M. Savini
Charles Stewart
Bill Tennyson Jr.
Deek Watson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although the viewed print of this film contained a copyright statement for Astor Pictures, Inc., no record of such a copyright has been found. This film marked Louis Jordan's first starring role in a feature film. The film's credit titles include Claude Demetrius and Louis Jordan as composers. The Variety review lists the following additional credits for music and lyrics: Lucky Millinder and Jerry Black. According to modern sources, women protested Louis Jordan's title song, "Beware, Brother, Beware," because of its sexist lyrics. Jordan offered an apology to women in the title song of his next film, Lookout Sister (see below).
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1946
Released in United States 1946
