Religious Racketeers
Religious Racketeers

Movie spotlight

Religious Racketeers

1938
Movie
90 min
English

A wealthy young woman, racked with guilt because she wasn't there when her mother died, is so desperate to contact her that she gets involved with a phony mystic who promises to put her in touch with her mother's spirit, but who is really after her money. A reporter who loves the young woman sets out to expose the phony "psychic" for the charlatan he is.

Insights

Director: Frank R. StrayerGenres: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

A group of con artists, led by a charismatic preacher, travel the country swindling unsuspecting townsfolk with fake religious revivals and miracle cures. However, their operation begins to unravel when a skeptical reporter starts digging into their past and exposing their fraudulent activities. The crooks must then find a way to escape justice while their schemes fall apart around them.

Critical Reception

This film is a relatively obscure entry from the late 1930s, often noted for its early depiction of Black performers in roles that, while stereotypical by modern standards, offered them significant screen time. Critical reception at the time was likely lukewarm, with modern reviews often highlighting its historical curiosity and the performances of its cast rather than its cinematic merit.

What Reviewers Say

  • Offers a glimpse into early cinematic representations of Black performers.

  • Features performances that were notable for their era.

  • A low-budget production with a somewhat predictable plot.

Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for this film is not readily available due to its age and obscurity.

Fun Fact

Despite its title and subject matter, the film was produced by the independent Poverty Row studio Associated Distributors, which specialized in low-budget features often targeting specific ethnic audiences.

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