Moon Over Harlem (film #22 in the Black Culture section of Movieflix). [Category: Sleaze & Outsider]

A young woman from Harlem experiences many troubles when her mother marries a gangster. This was directed by cult director Edgar G. Ulmer, and it shows. There is a dark, gritty, tragic feeling about the proceedings, even though the film ultimately ends on a hopeful note. All the characters struggle in one way or another with poverty and hopelessness, and although this is never explicitly stated, the connection of this to racism is obvious. This is also one of the more realistic and less stereotyped of the all-black cast films. I bet African-American audiences of the time really identified with this one.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: N/A. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ****.