Word: akim
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Africa was enjoying a rash of ritual murder. Three years ago jet-complexioned Sir Ofori Atta, Paramount Chief of Akim Abuakwa, died (of natural causes) in the Gold Coast Colony. Soon his friend and secretary, Mensah, Chief of Apedwa, disappeared from view. After long investigation by the British authorities, eight natives were convicted of murdering Mensah, and sentenced to hang (TIME, Dec.11,1944). Mensah, the Crown contended, had been sacrificed to provide blood to daub a ceremonial stool which represented the late Sir Ofori; or to provide Sir Ofori with a companion in the spirit world; or both...
...credit side, "Can't Help Singing" has some good songs which, unfortunately for this movie's box-office, sound better out of context in the juke box. Occasionally, too there is some comic relief by Akim Tamiroff and others that departs from pattern...
...Ofori Atta was a stout, pious, blue-black man who ruled over Akim Abuakwa on Africa's Gold Coast. London knew him. Once he visited King George V to be knighted for his services to the Crown (supplying soldiers and bearers) in World War I. Again he went to London on business, as a director of Akim, Ltd., a diamond mining company. He wore a heavy golden crown, a purple and gold toga. Wherever he went, a small black boy in silk knee breeches walked before him. The boy was the repository of Sir Ofori's soul...
...Ofori had not long been dead when his good friend Akyea Mensah, the Odikro of Apedwa, subchief of Akim Abuakwa. disappeared. The Odikro's servant and two pygmy followers also vanished. For nine months Gold Coast authorities quietly investigated. Then they arrested eight natives, charged them with murdering the Odikro. In time the eight stood in the prisoner's dock in Accra's white, sweltering courthouse. They rolled their eyes, cast covertly accusing glances at each other, sweated while witnesses testified...
Jade, played by Katherine Hopburn, symbolizes the new era. Miss Hepburn is aincere and convincing and proves, that she can handle a dramatic part with the same effectiveness as a comedy role, while Walior Huston lends strength and dignity to the part of the head of the family. Akim Tamiroff as the Chinese Quisling is perhaps the only one not well cast...