I want to note Clarence Muse’s performance in the Lugosi film INVISIBLE GHOST. He really rises above the terrible script and gives an excellent performance. He somehow manages to tone down the “spooked black man” cliché and is very natural and somehow comforting throughout. He seems to be the only well developed character of the lot. Check out Muse's caring for the dumb new cook, his strength with the other servants in the household and they way he seems to be playing with the psychologist and police. He really holds his own with his answers to the extremely inane questions they are asking him. This is all due to his fine acting. This is not surprising to those who have seen BROKEN STINGS and other performances in his filmography. I was amazed to see that the IMDb has his first entry from 1921 and his last role was in 1979’s THE BLACK STALLION!
Also of note is the Muse performance in BLACK MOON. His character, Lunch, has to spout some very racist lines and yet manages to be likable and quite natural in every scene he is in. He even becomes one of the heroes of the film. I, for one, was really hoping his character would make it to the last scene.
Muse is very memorable in the crossroads burial scene as the coach driver in WHITE ZOMBIE. He even has a credit in a Lewton film (the underrated APACHE DRUMS) and seems to be popping up in so many films I have seen lately.
I just thought it was time to start a thread for him here on the boards.Anyone else here appreciate his work?
