LYING LIPS

Cinemavixion Review

Oscar Micheaux, a pioneering filmmaker known for his unflinching exploration of Black life and racial complexities in America, delivers a compelling drama with "Lying Lips" (1939). The film centers on a nightclub singer, portrayed with grit by Edna Mae Harris, who finds herself wrongly convicted of murder. Micheaux masterfully crafts a narrative that is both a tense legal drama and a commentary on the societal pressures faced by Black women in the era. The presence of Robert Earl Jones as a detective determined to uncover the truth adds another layer of intrigue. Beyond the central plot, the film is notable for its inclusion of musical numbers, featuring tunes like ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby’ and ‘Chinatown My Chinatown’, offering a glimpse into the entertainment landscape of the time. While perhaps not as widely celebrated as some of Micheaux's other works, "Lying Lips" stands as a significant piece of early cinema, showcasing the director's distinctive voice and his commitment to telling vital stories.