I know several shoe companies use this as a slogan and that there are songs and/or albums titled as such, but who first said it? Additionaly, was there a superhero or comic character who used to say it as a “catch phrase?”
It was one of the catch phrases of Stepin Fetchit, an early black film performer. He basically transitioned the old racist minstrel shows from stage to screen, portraying a humble, fearful Negro caricature for the delight of white audiences. He made a lot of money doing it, but it’s still a rather hateful stereotype. I find it interesting that the phrase has survived to the present, while somehow shedding its deeply racist origins, to the point that it can apparently be used in mainstream marketing (though I haven’t seen that myself and would welcome a citation). In any event, if you choose to pick up this phrase for your own usage, be very careful about your audience, lest you inadvertently cause serious offense.
The phrase is most associated with black comic actor Mantan Moreland, but I strongly suspect it was an old vaudeville/burlesque catchphrase whose origin will never be traced.
IIRC, the original phrase was “Feets, don’t fail me know.” This was a catch phrase used by a Black movie actor who went by the name of Stepin Fetchit. I believe that was a screen name, but I don’t know his real name. I believe he was active during the 1920s and 1930s; possibly later. His roles were almost all caricatures of the stereotypical Negro, or at least as that was perceived by the White power structure. He was a gifted comedian and it is a shame that he was forced to play the roles he was given instead of roles more suited to his talent. In today’s world, his roles would be considered demeaning and not at all PC.
I don’t want to get into one of those race/stereotype/prejudice things, But-----
I recall a movie from the mid thirties in which a character, played by a REAL character known as “Step-n-fetchit”, said " Feets! Don’t fail me!" when he was supposedly frightened in a haunted house scene.
It might have been in one of those Bob Hope/Paulette Goddard movies which included haunting violin music, zombies and acres of hanging cob and spider webs
For what it’s worth
It’s Feets! Don’t fail me now. It was also a frequent exclamation on the old Amos 'n Andy radio show. Whoopie Goldberg said it at the 2002 Oscars. There’s even a Herbie Hancock song.
I’m sticking with Mantan Moreland, though some sites claim his original cry was, “Feets, do yo’ stuff!”
Nope. The Haunted House scene you’re thinking of was in “The Ghost Breakers,” and included Willie Best, who is probably the actor people think of when they think of Stepin’ Fetchit.
Best appeared in many more movies (and more movies that people have heard of, like “High Sierra” “Marx Brothers At the Circus,” and a few of the Mr. Moto films), and his character made Fetchit’s look like an paragon of black dignity. (It looks like Fetchit did not appear in any “haunted house” movies or anything where he was supposed to be terrified of something.)
Best hated it, but he could do nothing about it. Bob Hope once called him the best comedian he ever worked with.
To reality chuck
You’re absolutely right,it was Best.
That flic was made about 60 yrs + ago.
And it was one of the best Hope/Goddard scarers.
Thank you for squaring away this octonagerian[?]-----see-----I don’t even remember how to spell the doggone word!
[slight hijack] Little Feat referenced this in 1974 with Feats Don’t Fail Me Now.