Look-Out Sister is a 1949[1][dubious – discuss] film featuring Louis Jordan. Directed by Bud Pollard, it is a satirical,[2] Western-themed musical[3] and "horse opera".[4] The film was produced by Astor Pictures.[4] John E. Gordon wrote the story. The film remains in existence and is available online.

Jordan performs numerous songs in the film.[5] The plot features Louis Jordan as a burnt out musician who heads to a sanitorium to recover and the dreams of going out west to a dude ranch.[6][7] A poster for the film advertises it as including 11 great song hits and features the tagline "when he's not singin' he's shootin, when he's not shootin" he's lovin'.[8] Louise Franklin plays a featured role in the film.[4]

The film was directed by Bud Pollard[9] and Louis Jordan.

Excerpts from this film and his others, Beware (1946) and Reet, Petite and Gone (1947), as well as soundies were released as Louis Jordan: films and soundies[10]

The Jazz Society of Chicago and Chicago Film Society scheduled a showing of the film in 2019 calling it a "joyously ingratiating, loose-limbed musical that packs 11 songs into an hour.[11]

Production

The film, called Lookout while in production, was budgeted at $60,000.[12] It was named after Jordan's original song, "Look Out".[4] Louis Jordan was one of the investors for the film. Some of the "swim and western atmosphere shots" were taken in the San Fernando Valley.[12] During filming, Maceo Sheffield was injured after falling off of a horse in a scene where he was "in pursuit of an outlaw band".[13]

Cast

References

  1. ^ "Premiere parade tomorrow night". The California Eagle. February 3, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  2. ^ McCann, Bob (October 27, 2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9780786437900 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Berry, S. Torriano; Berry, Venise T. (January 26, 2007). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810864641 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c d Levette, Harry (10 April 1948). "20 Hollywood Bathing Beauties Star With Louis Jordan". Atlanta Daily World. p. 4. ProQuest 490847961. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  5. ^ "LOOKOUT SISTER". Library of Congress.
  6. ^ "Look-Out Sister". www.grapevinevideo.com.
  7. ^ "LOOK-OUT SISTER". May 19, 2020 – via blackreflections.tv.
  8. ^ "Look Out Sister, poster, Suzette Harbin, Louis Jordan, 1947". Getty Images.
  9. ^ "Look-Out Sister" – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Louis Jordan: films and soundies. October 27, 2003. OCLC 56194440 – via Open WorldCat.
  11. ^ Society, Chicago Film. "Do the "Barnyard Boogie!" – Louis Jordan Musical Lookout Sister Screens Sept. 11 in 35mm at NEIU | Chicago Film Society".
  12. ^ a b Lamar, Lawrence F. (3 April 1948). "Louis Jordan's Film, "Look" Ready Soon". The Chicago Defender (National Edition). p. 9. ProQuest 492845491. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Maceo Sheffield Is Injured In Fall Off Hoss in Jordan Pix". New York Amsterdam. 3 April 1948. p. 23. ProQuest 225936964. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. ^ Levette, Harry (April 9, 1948). "20 Hollywood Bathing Beauties Star With Louis Jordan". Alabama Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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