''Up Jumped the Devil'' is a 1941 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

William Beaudine William Washington Beaudine (January 15, 1892 – March 18, 1970) was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres. Life and car ...

and starring

Mantan Moreland Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actress in several films. E ...

Plot

Washington and Jefferson are two criminals who are just released from prison. They look for jobs to avoid being arrested for

vagrancy Vagrancy is the condition of homelessness without regular employment or income. Vagrants (also known as bums, vagabonds, rogues, tramps or drifters) usually live in poverty and support themselves by begging, scavenging, petty theft, temporar ...

. When reading an ad in the paper they find out that Mrs. Brown, a wealthy woman, looks for a butler and a maid. Jefferson decides to apply for the job as butler, while he convinces Washington to dress up as a woman in order to get the job as maid. As they work in her mansion they stumble upon Bad News Johnson, a crook they knew from their prison days and who eventually recognizes them. He tries to make them come along and trick Mrs. Brown.

Cast

as Washington. * Maceo Bruce Sheffield as Bad News Johnson *

Shelton Brooks Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886September 6, 1975) was a Canadian-born African American composer of popular music and jazz. He was known for his ragtime and vaudeville style, and wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century. ...

as Jefferson *

Laurence Criner Laurence Criner (19 July 1898 - 8 March 1965) born John Laurence Criner, occasionally credited as J. Lawrence Criner, was an actor in the United States. An African-American, he had numerous film roles including as the male lead and star. He was ...

as Sheriff * Myrtle Fortune * Patsy Hunter * Millie Monroe * Suzette Harbin * Avanelle Harris

References

External links

* 1941 films 1941 comedy films 1940s buddy comedy films American buddy comedy films American black-and-white films Cross-dressing in American films Films directed by William Beaudine Films set in country houses Toddy Pictures Company films Race films 1940s American films {{1940s-comedy-film-stub