Check and Double Check 1930

In this lively comedy, Amos Jones and Andrew Hogg Brown run the quirky “Fresh Air Taxicab Company, Incorpulated,” a name chosen partly for amusement because their lone taxi has no roof. When their aging cab breaks down, it blocks traffic and strands John Blair and his wife, who are rushing to meet a family friend at the train station. With the Blairs delayed, Richard Williams makes his own way to their house and reconnects with their daughter, Jean Blair, the girl he once shared a childhood bond with. The spark between them is clear, and it rekindles old feelings, much to the irritation of Ralph Crawford, who has his own plan to win Jean’s heart.

That evening, Amos and Andy head to a lodge gathering, the Mystic Knights of the Sea. There, Kingfish hires them to transport the famed Duke Ellington Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club band to a party at the Blair estate. Meanwhile, Richard confides in John Blair about his affection for Jean and his dream of starting his own business. He explains that his family fell on hard times after the death of his father, losing a fortune that once funded a Harlem home once owned by his grandfather. He believes the deed to that property might be hidden on the Blair estate, and selling it could provide the capital needed to realize his plans. Unknown to them, Ralph Crawford is eavesdropping on this conversation, quietly plotting alongside his own ambitions.

Back at Harlem, Amos and Andy reconnect with Richard Williams—the men who once worked for his father down south—sharing a sense of nostalgia and mutual respect. The lodge’s annual challenge then unfolds: two members must spend a night in a haunted house in Harlem and discover a document labeled “Check and Double Check.” The haunted destination is the very home once owned by Richard Williams’s grandfather, a place charged with history and the mystery of the deed.

As the night progresses, Ralph Crawford and his cohorts are also searching the same haunted house for the vital deed, hoping to foil Richard’s chances with Jean. Amos and Andy locate what they believe is their lodge document, but they are quick to realize they have nothing to write their message on. In a scramble for something to write on, they stumble upon the deed to the premises. Just as they prepare to draft a note, Ralph and his friends close in, and the cab drivers hand over what everyone assumes is the deed to the lodge. In the chaos, they mistakenly exchange documents and flee, unaware that they have handed over the “Check and Double Check” paper instead of the actual deed. They do recognize the signature of Richard’s grandfather on the paper and intend to deliver it to Richard the next day, not grasping its true significance.

The morning after is tense for Richard, who leaves for the railway station in hopes of seizing his opportunity. Amos and Andy race to catch the outgoing train, but they arrive too late to hand over the deed. In a final, urgent dash, they reach the station and present the real deed just as Richard’s train pulls away. The timing is tight, but the deed’s appearance changes the course of events: Richard can now sell the Harlem property, secure the capital to launch his business, and, most importantly, pursue his relationship with Jean.

The story resolves with a sense of progress and renewed possibility: the deed unlocks a path to financial independence for Richard, a future for his budding romance with Jean, and the chance to honor the old friendships that Amos Amos Jones and Andrew Hogg Brown have carried through a comic, chaotic night. The film blends warmth, music, and a touch of Harlem neighborhood charm, delivering a social comedy that reflects ambition, loyalty, and the enduring pull of family history.