Bad Boy (DVD)

John Fraser's beloved mother is thrilled when her hard-working son lands a drafting engineer job in the city with a top firm. He makes the acquaintance of co-worker Steve Carson who introduces Johnny to betting on the horses and nightclub torch singer Madelon Kirby. The naive boy falls for the sexy siren who makes it clear that her love doesn't come cheap. Over his head in debt, Carson encourages him to "borrow" from the firm, and Johnny winds up with a prison sentence for embezzlement. Upon his release, the ex-con finds himself unemployable. Determined to show his mother that he is a success, Johnny turns to a life of crime. Our Gang alumni Johnny Downs had a three decade career that stretched from the silents to TV work in the 1950s. He is best remembered for his roles in Algiers (1938), The Mad Monster (1942) and Adventures of The Flying Cadets (1943). Spencer Williams, Jr. was equally at home in front of and behind the lens and was a powerful force in early black cinema. The hauntingly lyrical morality tale, The Blood Of Jesus was his first directorial effort (co-directing with Oscar Micheaux). He also wrote, produced and acted in the film. Mainstream audiences know Williams mostly for his brilliant comedic work in the 1950s as Andrew H. Brown in the Amos 'n' Andy TV show.

• drama