Edward Thompson

Movies

Lucky Ghost
Second Ghost (as Eddie Thompson)
An all-black horror comedy starring Mantan Moreland and sometimes partner (and straight man) F.E. Miller, Lucky Ghost is amusing low-brow fare that exploits the more base, stereotypical elements of old-time black life (chicken thievin', gamblin', runnin' from ghosteses) for laughs -- sort of like the BET of its day. Mantan and Miller win a house-cum-casino in a craps game, only to discover that the deceased former owners aren't too pleased that their old home is being used for "jitterbugging, jiving, and hullaballooing". I hate hullaballooing. The ghosts decide to scare everyone off by opening doors and windows, pulling out chairs, even playing the drums.
Mystery in Swing
Capt. Hall
In and around some great blues, swing and jazz music, a very unpopular band-leader. Prince Ellis, is killed in a Harlem nightclub, and, in and around some more great music, a detective finds the lists of suspects is very long, as Prince Ellis was indeed very unpopular with many citizens.
Gang War
Man in Courtroom
Two mobs fight for control of the jukebox racket.
Broken Strings
Sam Stilton
After noted violinist Arthur Williams suffers a hand injury which ends his playing career, his hopes are transferred to his son, who prefers swing music to classical.
Double Deal
Dude Markey
Tommy McCoy and "Dude" Markey are both in love with Harlem singer/dancer Nita. Markey robs a jewelry store and turns the loot over to gang-boss Murray Howard. Later, Markey robs the safe, steals the jewelry, and, in order to get rid of his rival for Nita, frames the robbery on McCoy. The latter's big-brother thinks otherwise and, with Nita's help, sets out to prove it.
Gang Smashers
Doyle
An undercover police woman poses as a nighclub entertainer to catch the main man behind the racketeers going on around Harlem. Meanwhile two men are falling for her.
The Duke Is Tops
Ferdie Fenton
A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer.
Bargain with Bullets
Police Lt. Lester
A gangster film about the Harlem underworld.
Georgia Rose
Musical film with an all-black cast.
The Framing of the Shrew
Privacy Robson
Privacy Robson is a downtrodden husband who takes advice from his friend Florian Slappey. He eventually gets the upper hand after starting divorce proceedings, pretending to have a new girlfriend and refusing to eat anything she cooks him.
Melancholy Dame
Permanent Williams
A nightclub owner's wife, jealous of his attentions to his star singer, schemes to get her fired.
The Spider's Web
Martinez
A lost film. Remade by Micheaux as a sound film, The Girl from Chicago (1932).