Mantan Moreland
Encyclopedia
Mantan Moreland was an American
actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
, Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent, reportedly running away to join the circus. By the late 1920s, he had made his way through vaudeville
, working with various shows and revues, performing on Broadway
and touring Europe. Initially, Moreland appeared in low-budget "race movie
s" aimed at African-American audiences, but as his comedic talents came to be recognized, he received roles in larger productions.
Monogram Pictures
signed Moreland to appear opposite Frankie Darro
in the studio's popular action pictures. Moreland, with his bulging eyes and cackling laugh, quickly became a favorite supporting player in Hollywood movies. He is perhaps best known for his role as chauffeur
Birmingham Brown in Monogram's Charlie Chan
series. At the height of his career, Moreland received steady work from major film studios, as well as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-black-cast comedies.
Moreland also toured America in vaudeville, making personal appearances in the nation's movie theaters. His straight man was Ben Carter, and they developed an excellent rapport and impeccable timing. Their "incomplete sentence" routines can be seen in two Charlie Chan pictures, The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi.
Moreland was offered fewer roles in the 1950s, when filmmakers began to reassess roles given to black actors. He was briefly considered as a possible addition to the Three Stooges
when Shemp Howard died in 1955. Moreland returned to the stage and appeared in two all-black variety films in 1955, with Nipsey Russell
standing in for Ben Carter as his straight man
.
, which was patterned after Universal
's thrillers of the 1940s. After suffering a stroke in the early 1960s, Moreland took on a few minor comedic roles, working with the likes of Bill Cosby
, Moms Mabley
and Carl Reiner
.
Moreland died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1973 in Hollywood
. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
.
' 1963 song "Bad Detective" are sung from the first-person perspective of Birmingham Brown, Mantan Moreland's character in the Charlie Chan movie series.
On the Beastie Boys
album Ill Communication
, a Moreland sample from That Ain't My Finger was used in the song "B-Boys makin' with the Freak Freak". The sample was "Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes", which is the punchline to a joke about a French girl's misunderstanding of a certain obscene word. Audio collage artist Wayne Butane has used the same sample numerous times in his work.
Robert B. Parker
makes an allusion to Moreland in Hush Money
, one of his long running series of Spenser novels.
In the Spike Lee film Bamboozled
two characters recreate Moreland's "Incomplete Sentence" routine. Additionally, the fictional TV show which the plot spins around is called "Mantan: The New Millenium Minstrel Show".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Career
Born in Monroe, LouisianaMonroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent, reportedly running away to join the circus. By the late 1920s, he had made his way through vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, working with various shows and revues, performing on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and touring Europe. Initially, Moreland appeared in low-budget "race movie
Race movie
The race movie or race film was a film genre which existed in the United States between about 1915 and 1950. It consisted of films produced for an all-black audience, featuring black casts....
s" aimed at African-American audiences, but as his comedic talents came to be recognized, he received roles in larger productions.
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
signed Moreland to appear opposite Frankie Darro
Frankie Darro
Frankie Darro was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles in adventure, western, dramatic, and comedy films, and later became a character actor and voice-over artist.-Early life:Darro...
in the studio's popular action pictures. Moreland, with his bulging eyes and cackling laugh, quickly became a favorite supporting player in Hollywood movies. He is perhaps best known for his role as chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
Birmingham Brown in Monogram's Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
series. At the height of his career, Moreland received steady work from major film studios, as well as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-black-cast comedies.
Moreland also toured America in vaudeville, making personal appearances in the nation's movie theaters. His straight man was Ben Carter, and they developed an excellent rapport and impeccable timing. Their "incomplete sentence" routines can be seen in two Charlie Chan pictures, The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi.
Moreland was offered fewer roles in the 1950s, when filmmakers began to reassess roles given to black actors. He was briefly considered as a possible addition to the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
when Shemp Howard died in 1955. Moreland returned to the stage and appeared in two all-black variety films in 1955, with Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell
Julius "Nipsey" Russell was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid...
standing in for Ben Carter as his straight man
Double act
A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic pairing in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin and profession, but drastically different personalities or behavior...
.
Later career and death
Moreland's last featured role was in the 1968 darkly humorous horror film Spider BabySpider Baby
Spider Baby is a 1964 black comedy horror film, written and directed by Jack Hill. It stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as Bruno, the chauffeur and caretaker of three orphaned siblings who suffer from "Merrye Syndrome", which causes them to mentally, socially, and physically regress backwards down the...
, which was patterned after Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
's thrillers of the 1940s. After suffering a stroke in the early 1960s, Moreland took on a few minor comedic roles, working with the likes of Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, Moms Mabley
Moms Mabley
Jackie "Moms" Mabley, born Loretta Mary Aiken , was an American standup comedian and a pioneer of the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit" of African-American vaudeville.-Early years:...
and Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner is an American actor, film director, producer, writer and comedian. He has won nine Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award during this career...
.
Moreland died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1973 in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, California.The cemetery has a special section called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for a number of aviation pioneers — barnstormers, daredevils and...
.
Selected filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1933 | That's the Spirit | Night watchman | Credited as Moreland |
| 1936 | The Green Pastures The Green Pastures (film) The Green Pastures is a 1936 film depicting stories from the Bible as visualized by African American characters. It starred Rex Ingram , Oscar Polk, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson... |
Angel Removing Hat | Uncredited |
| 1937 | Harlem on the Prairie | Alternative title: Bad Man of Harlem | |
| 1938 | Two-Gun Man from Harlem | Bill Blake | |
| 1939 | One Dark Night | Samson Brown | |
| 1940 | Chasing Trouble | Jefferson | |
| 1940 | Up in the Air Up in the Air (1940 film) - Cast :*Frankie Darro as Frankie Ryan*Marjorie Reynolds as Anne Mason*Mantan Moreland as Jeff Jefferson*Gordon Jones as Tex Barton*Lorna Gray as Singer Rita Wilson aka Gladys Wharton*Tristram Coffin as Bob Farrell*Clyde Dilson as Detective Lt. Marty Phillips... |
Jeff | |
| 1941 | You're Out of Luck | Jeff Jefferson | |
| 1941 | King of the Zombies King of the Zombies - Plot :During World War II, a small plane somewhere over the Caribbean runs low on fuel and is blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crash-land on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor... |
Jefferson "Jeff" Jackson | |
| 1941 | Let's Go Collegiate Let's Go Collegiate Let's Go Collegiate is a 1941 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough.The film is also known as Farewell to Fame in the United Kingdom.- Plot summary :... |
Jeff | |
| 1941 | The Gang's All Here The Gang's All Here (1941 film) The Gang's All Here is an American black-and-white feature film starring Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland in a story about a trucking company targeted by saboteurs. The film was directed by Jean Yarbrough, produced by Lindsley Parsons, and is one of several that paired Darro and Moreland... |
Jefferson "Jeff" Smith | |
| 1942 | Lucky Ghost | Washington Delaware Jones | |
| 1942 | Freckles Comes Home Freckles Comes Home Freckles Comes Home is a 1942 American film directed by Jean Yarbrough based on the novel by Gene Stratton-Porter that was a sequel to Freckles.- Cast :*Johnny Downs as "Freckles" Winslow*Gale Storm as Jane Potter... |
Jeff - the Hotel Porter | |
| 1943 | Cabin in the Sky Cabin in the Sky Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John La Touche, and a musical book by Lynn Root. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 25, 1940. It closed on March 8, 1941 after a total of 156 performances... |
First Idea Man | |
| 1944 | Charlie Chan in the Secret Service | Birmingham Brown | |
| 1945 | The Scarlet Clue The Scarlet Clue The Scarlet Clue is a 1945 American film directed by Phil Rosen.The film is also known as Charlie Chan in the Scarlet Clue and Charlie Chan: The Scarlet Clue in Australia... |
Birmingham Brown | |
| 1945 | The Shanghai Cobra (Charlie Chan) | Birmingham Brown | |
| 1946 | Mantan Messes Up | Mantan | |
| 1946 | Tall, Tan, and Terrific Tall, Tan, and Terrific - Cast :*Mantan Moreland as Mantan Moreland*Monte Hawley as "Handsome" Harry Hansom*Francine Everett as Miss Tall, Tan and Terrific*Dots Johnson as The Duke*Rudy Toombs as Lefty Gomez*Barbara "Butterbeans" Bradford as Club photographer... |
Mantan Moreland | |
| 1947 | Ebony Parade | Mantan | |
| 1948 | The Feathered Serpent The Feathered Serpent (film) The Feathered Serpent is a 1948 mystery film, the fifth of six in which Roland Winters portrayed Charlie Chan. It is the only Chan film which featured both Keye Luke and Victor Sen Yung together. Luke had been popular in the Warner Oland Chan films while Yung appeared primarily in the Sidney... |
Birmingham Brown | |
| 1949 | The Sky Dragon | Birmingham Brown | Alternative title: Charlie Chan and the Sky Dragon |
| 1964 | The Patsy | Barbershop Porter | Uncredited |
| 1966 | Alvarez Kelly Alvarez Kelly Alvarez Kelly is a 1966 war film set in the American Civil War. It starred William Holden and Richard Widmark. The film was based on the real-life Beefsteak Raid of September 1864.-Plot:... |
Bartender | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Enter Laughing Enter Laughing (film) Enter Laughing is a 1967 comedy film, directed by Carl Reiner, based on his autobiographical novel and the stage play of the same name.The film stars Jose Ferrer, Shelly Winters and Elaine May... |
Subway Rider | |
| 1968 | Spider Baby Spider Baby Spider Baby is a 1964 black comedy horror film, written and directed by Jack Hill. It stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as Bruno, the chauffeur and caretaker of three orphaned siblings who suffer from "Merrye Syndrome", which causes them to mentally, socially, and physically regress backwards down the... |
Messenger | Alternative title: Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told |
| 1970 | Watermelon Man Watermelon Man (film) Watermelon Man is a 1970 American comedy-drama film directed by Melvin Van Peebles and based on the book The Night the Sun Came Out on Happy Hollow Lane by Herman Raucher... |
Counterman | |
| 1972 | The Biscuit Eater The Biscuit Eater The Biscuit Eater is a 1972 Disney film released by Buena Vista Distribution based on a novel by James H. Street. It is the last 'One Boy and his Animal' themed movie made by Disney, as this subgenre would eventually grow out of fashion... |
Waiter | |
| 1973 | The Young Nurses | Old Man | Credited as Man Tan Moreland |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1957 | Hallmark Hall of Fame Hallmark Hall of Fame Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011... |
1 episode | |
| 1969 | Julia Julia (TV series) Julia is an American sitcom notable for being one of the first weekly series to depict an African American woman in a non-stereotypical role. Previous television series featured African American lead characters, but the characters were usually servants. The show starred actress and singer Diahann... |
Henry James | 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show The Bill Cosby Show The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Cosby's first solo foray in television, after his co-starring role with... |
Uncle Dewey | 1 episode |
| Adam-12 Adam-12 Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a... |
Philip Richards | 1 episode | |
Stage performances
- Blackbirds (1928)
- Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1930 (1930)
- Singin' the Blues (1931)
- Blackberries of 1932 (1932)
- Yeah-Man (1932)
- Shuffle Along of 1933 (1933)
- Waiting for Godot (1957)
Recordings
- That Ain't My Finger (Laff)
- Elsie's Sportin' House (Laff)
- Tribute to the Man (Laff)
Cultural references
The lyrics of The CoastersThe Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
' 1963 song "Bad Detective" are sung from the first-person perspective of Birmingham Brown, Mantan Moreland's character in the Charlie Chan movie series.
On the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
album Ill Communication
Ill Communication
Ill Communication is the fourth studio album by the Beastie Boys. It was released on May 24, 1994 via Grand Royal Records. It was remastered and made available on the Beastie Boys' Web site on July 7, 2009....
, a Moreland sample from That Ain't My Finger was used in the song "B-Boys makin' with the Freak Freak". The sample was "Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes", which is the punchline to a joke about a French girl's misunderstanding of a certain obscene word. Audio collage artist Wayne Butane has used the same sample numerous times in his work.
Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also...
makes an allusion to Moreland in Hush Money
Hush Money
Hush Money is a 1931 American comedy-drama film featuring Joan Bennett, Hardie Albright, Owen Moore, Myrna Loy, and George Raft. The movie was directed by Sidney Lanfield.-Cast:*Joan Bennett as Joan Gordon*Hardie Albright as Stuart Elliot...
, one of his long running series of Spenser novels.
In the Spike Lee film Bamboozled
Bamboozled
Bamboozled is a 2000 satirical film written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning blackface makeup and the violent fall-out from the show's success...
two characters recreate Moreland's "Incomplete Sentence" routine. Additionally, the fictional TV show which the plot spins around is called "Mantan: The New Millenium Minstrel Show".
Literature
- Michael H. Price - Mantan the Funnyman (2007), a biography of Moreland
External links
- Mantan Moreland - Biography on (re)Search my Trash
- B-Horror's Humorous Hero - Retrospect of Moreland's career
- The African American Registry - Short biography