"Black Sheep" is unheralded, underrated, far-fetched and great fun. Loved every minute of the snappy dialogue and the fast-paced plot. I wished they had made a series of these as it was very entertaining - it's what makes people sing "That's Entertainment" when watching a terrific movie (They do, don't they?) Good chemistry between Lowe and Trevor, who shows a flair for comedy I didn't know she had. Lowe is suave and debonair - he played too many roles requiring a dour and serious demeanor and here he gets a chance to smile and unwind in this breezy comedy. It is dated and takes place aboard a transatlantic ocean liner with the accompanying obsolete manners and customs, but if you are a fan of the best movies of Hollywood's so-called Golden Age, this one's for you.

The biggest reason I chose to watch this film is Edmund Lowe--a pretty much forgotten leading man today but a darn fine actor. Often I have noticed that I like him better than the films he's in, as he managed to bring something more to his parts.Lowe is a professional gambler who frequents cruise ships. He doesn't cheat--he's just very good. Soon after the film begins, he meets a nice lady (Claire Trevor) and they both sneak into the first class section where Lowe looks for some action. But before he can locate a game, he and Trevor come upon a sad young man who is trying to kill himself. It seems that the young man has been tricked by an evil vamp and she is trying to blackmail him into helping her with a theft. And, rather than do this, he'd rather kill himself. Lowe decides to help the young man out of his predicament. Partway through his scheme, Lowe discovers the guy is his son! I'd not normally mention such a spoiler, but it's CLEARLY given away in the IMDb summary! Can he and Trevor extricate the young knucklehead? And what will become of Lowe and Trevor, as Claire clearly has her eyes set on him and isn't about to just let him go when the film concludes.As usual, Lowe makes fine use of him screen time in a movie that is otherwise just a little better than ordinary. It also helps that Trevor and Eugene Palette are on hand as well--giving the film a bit more color and entertainment value. I'll give this one a 7...but it's almost good enough for an 8.

Black Sheep (1935) ** (out of 4) A professional gambler (Edmund Lowe) and a dancer (Claire Trevor) meet on a cruise ship and decide to pull a sting against a money hungry widow and a Texas oilman. This film has been pretty much forgotten over the years but it had a good reputation so I gave it a shot but it really didn't work for me. I've never been a fan of Lowe, who I find pretty dull as an actor but Trevor did manage to get a few nice laughs. The subplot dealing with Lowe's son was forced and wasn't believable while the actual sting is also quite boring and director Allan Dwan never manages any excitement.

This film, shown on cable recently, was a discovery. In only 76 minutes, this delicious comedy packs much more than lengthier ones. This is a tribute to the man in charge of it, Allan Dawn, who combines the right elements to give us this fabulous trans Atlantic voyage.We are introduced to the main characters, Jeannette Foster and John Francis Dugan, traveling second class in a luxury liner. Dugan knows he can sneak into first class and takes Jeanette with him. John Dugan is a professional gambler that made his living out of these ships playing with the wealthy passengers. Jeanette is an actress returning home.We also meet an assortment of the passengers in the upper deck. Among them, an immature playboy, Fred Curtis, who has no luck gambling and is in debt to the mysterious and sophisticated Mrs. Bath, a rich woman who has stolen an expensive necklace from one a European royal just for the thrill of it. We also meet Col. Belcher and his friend and partner in gambling, Schmelling, a funny pair that will soon lose money to Dugan, who knows more about the game.The surprise comes from watching a splendid comedic turn by Claire Trevor, who we have seen in a lot of heavier roles. In this picture she clearly demonstrates she had a knack for playing a lighter fare. The movie also has an excellent performance from the great Edmund Lowe, an actor that was a pleasure to watch in everything he did.In the smaller roles, the great Eugene Palette makes a great impression as Col. Belcher, a rich oil man returning from Europe. Adrienne Ames, was also good as the sophisticated Mrs. Bath. She plays this woman with great panache. Tom Brown, as the young Fred Curtis, makes a good contribution to the film.The ensemble work that Allan Dawn got from all the major players, as well as the rest of the crew makes "Black Sheep" a delight to watch. The fantastic crossing of the Atlantic in the era of the luxury ships will enchant anyone looking for a carefree time at the movies.