You're Out of Luck

Jeff (Mantan Moreland) and Frankie (Frankie Darro) are employees at the Carlton Arms Hotel where they work overtime to avoid being caught goofing off on the job. Their carefree, shiftless days come to an abrupt end in the hotel's parking garage, when they witness the mob-style murder of penthouse tenant, professional gambler Hal Dayton. As reporters swarm the hotel, Detective Tom O'Reilly is dispatched to investigate. Baffled by the homicide, O'Reilly asks Jeff and Frankie to engage in a little covert sleuthing. As the unlikely crime fighters unravel the history of Dayton's gambling debts and burnt bridges, they realize that as sole witnesses to the murder, they may be next to be eliminated.

Comic actor Mantan Moreland co-starred with Frankie Darro in eight films between 1939 and 1941, of which You're Out of Luck is one of the best. This engrossing murder mystery is the perfect vehicle to showcase the comedy duo's hilarious shenanigans and deft physical comedy.

• mystery