The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America

It seems like there is going to be a movie made about Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald and the Savoy Ballroom called The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America. Check out the video clips.

The documentary features interviews with Frankie Manning and Norma Miller.






(via Charlie)
What do you think of the movie? Please comment.

Betty Hutton - "Murder, He Says"

Jive talk was the slang language of the 1930's and 1940's. Here is video clip with some of the expressions from the swing era.

Betty Hutton sings the song "Murder, He Says" in which she is rather annoyed with the way her lover speaks when they get into an intimate situation.

According to the YouTube poster this clip is from "November 1943 for the Armed Forces Radio Service show "Command Performance" (episode 92)". I suspect that this video clip appeared in the movie Strictly G.I.

Films like Strictly G.I. were made to boost the morale for the American troupes in World War II.

What do you think of Betty Hutton belting out "Murder, He Says"? Please comment.

Jerry Lewis - Leap Frog

I found this video clip with Jerry Lewis from the movie The Nutty Professor via a comment made by leazwell. Jerry Lewis has made perfect examples of the phenomenon that I call "the music made me do it". Look at him in the films Errand boy or Cinderfella.

In this video clip he cant help himself, he just has to dance to the song Leap Frog performed by Les Brown and His Band of Renown.

The nutty professor explains:

"I got carried away by the music, it was a toe tapper"

What songs do you consider a "toe tapper"? Please tell me.

I've featured a very different version of Leap Frog before in my blog post "Jazz as a conversation" but it was also a example of "the music made me do it".


What do you think of Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor? Please comment.

Louis Jordan - Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby

According to Wikipedia, the musician Louis Jordan was born on July 8th in 1908. One of his most known songs that he performed was Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby.

Above you see him play and sing it in the movie Follow the Boys from 1944.

"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" have been sung by many artists. Do you have a favorite version?

What do you think of the video clip with Louis Jordan? Please comment.

Easy virtue - Let's misbehave

While looking for versions of Cole Porter's song "Let's Misbehave" I stumbled across the film Easy Virtue that was released last year. "Let's misbehave" is the tagline of the movie and the song is also included in the film.

Easy Virtue is set in England in the early 1930's, where a young man marries an American which is not approved by his mother. The main characters are played by Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth.

There is also a soundtrack from Easy Virtue available.

I think the film look charming and would like to see it. Has anyone got it?

Read more about:

• Let's Misbehave
• 1930's
• Films and movies

Have you seen Easy Virtue? What do you think of it? Please comment.

The Great Gatsby - Charleston dancing

Here is a fun video clip from the film The Great Gatsby where people are dancing Charleston at a wild party and jumping into the fountain.

I would have liked to been at that party in the roaring 20's!

The film The Great Gatsby is from 1974 and has Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in the leading roles.

I think this might be where the director for the music video of Come To Me by Koop got some of his ideas.

What do you think of the video clip with charleston dancing from The Great Gatsby? Please comment.

Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) - Can Can

Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) is song that I love because of its funny, witty and silly lyrics. The lyrics makes me smile every time I hear them.

Here is a version of Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) that is sung by Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine in a scene from the movie Can-Can from 1960.

Check out an other bubbly performance of Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) by MaryAnne (ysabellabrave).

What do you think of this video clip with Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine? Please comment.

It's time to dance Madison

When I looked at the stats of this blog today, I once again saw a increased interest in dances from 1961. In January I asked "What is so interesting about dances from 1961?" Well, aparantly it's a clue in a crossword and the solution is "Watusi".

I thought I would feature another dance from the 1960's: The Madison. The video clip above is from the film "Bande a Part" (Band of Outsiders) from 1964.

I love the combination of attitude and casual style and also the surrealistic moment when the music stops during the voice-over but the dancers continue to dance.

A friend of mine run a film marathon once a year where everybody watches 5 or 6 movies in a row, each movie has a different style I think this movie would be a perfect candidate in the "surrealistic section" of the evening.

Do you sometimes dance without music?

What do you think of the video clip with people dancing the Madison? Please comment.

Opus One: Tommy Dorsey

I will continue to list the classic swing songs. Here is one undisputed classic: Opus One with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. This particular version is from the short film "Universal Name Band Musical 7301: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra" from 1951.

Opus #1 was written by Sy Oliver and became a hit with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra in 1944.

I love the trading of phrases that goes on between trumpeter Charlie Shavers and the pianist (who is he, can anyone help me?)

What do you think of Opus No. 1? Got any suggestions of other classic swing songs? Please comment.

Cyd Charisse - Frankie and Johnny

Recently the great dancer Cyd Charisse passed away. Cyd Charisse was one of the stars in the era of movie musicals in the 1940's and 1950's. Read her obituary in NY Times.

Here is a video clip from the film Meet Me In Las Vegas from 1956 where Cyd Charisse dances to the song Frankie and Johnny sung by Sammy Davis Jr.

I love the precision and quality in the dancers movements. What a great choreography. It's credited to Hermes Pan according to the Internet Movie Database (but the poster on Youtube says Eugene Loring).

Last summer I posted a clip where Cyd Charisse dances in the film Party Girl.

What do you think of the dance scene with Cyd Charisse? Please comment.

Alice Faye and Louis Prima: I'm Just Wild About Harry

A while back I wrote about Louis Prima being the voice behind King Louie in The Jungle Book, but Louis Prima has been in front of the camera as well. Take a look at his wild and funny style in this video clip where Alice Faye sings "I'm Just Wild About Harry" accompanied by Louis Prima in the movie Rose Of Washington Square from 1939.

The handsome bloke that is looking at the show, enjoying it, is played by Tyrone Power who was the Brad Pitt of the 1930's.

I recognize the lick that Louie plays at 0:45 into the clips, but from what other song? Do you know?

What do you think of the video clip with Louis Prima and Alice Faye? Please comment.

I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo: Orchestra Wives

I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo is a song that I think sometimes come out a little bit flat when I hear it on a recording, but that is not the case here in this scene from the 1942 movie Orchestra Wives.

You actually get two different but equally great versions (in their own way). First out is one with Glenn Miller's band in the background. In the film the name is somewhat modified to Gene Morrison's band, probably good for the budget so you don't have to change all the GM initials on the drums and the other things.

The real focus is however on the singers Tex Beneke and Marion Hutton and the vocal group The Modernaires.

The second version features the fabulous tap dancing Nicholas Brothers. I think their tap dancing influences their singing because I really like how they phrase the words. I think that kind of phrasing is of the same kind as the rhythms they create when they dance.

And, wow, who wouldn't like to be athletic like them? Those splits... :)

I've featured the Nicholas Brothers before on my blog.

What do you think of the two versions of I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo? Tell me.

Dance Movie Blogathon

Ferdi On Film has declared this week a Dance Movie Blogathon where partipants blog about dance on film.

My own small contribution will be a link to my archive of posts about films and movies.

Enjoy!

Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right?

"Why Don't You Do Right?" is a classic swing song that is a favorite of mine. The most classic recording of that song was done by Benny Goodman's orchestra featuring singer Peggy Lee. Enjoy Peggy Lee's version of "Why Don't You Do Right?".

According to the YouTube poster, this scene comes from a film called Stage Door Canteen from 1943.

What do you think of the video clip with Peggy Lee singing Why Don't You Do Right? Tell me.

Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra

Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra is an orchestra that is somewhat forgotten nowadays but they sounded great. Here is a video clip from a short movie featuring the band playing the songs "Hep And Happy", "Broom Street" and "Darktown Strutters' Ball".

The dancers in the clip are Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan doing a version of the Shim Sham as well as dancing lindy hop in a Hollywood style. Just look at Jewel McGowan doing those swivels. Wow.

You can find out more about the movie with Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra at Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

What do think of the video clip with Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra? Tell me.

Easter Parade: Fred Astaire drums and tap dances

Since it's easter right now, I find it appropriate to show a video clip from the movie Easter Parade from 1948 starring Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Ann Miller.

Here is a clip with Fred Astaire drumming and tap dancing in a toy store in the number "Drum Crazy". There are a lot of rhythms both with the drums sticks and his feet.

What do you think of Fred Astaire tapping in the film Easter Parade? Tell me.

Swing Fever: Swing dancing

Here is a scene from the movie Swing Fever from 1943. Kay Kyser and his orchestra plays the song "One Girl and Two Boys".

According to the Internet Movie Database it's Jeanne Phelps-Veloz who dances swing together with Don Gallaher and Lennie Smith in a Hollywood style.

If you like the song you can hear a modern version by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra on the album Live at the Hollywood Palladium. Bill Elliott has btw also another album called Swing Fever.

What do you think about the dancing in the film Swing Fever? Tell me.

Drum Boogie with Gene Krupa from Ball of Fire

Here is a great video with Gene Krupa playing Drum Boogie from the film Ball of Fire.

Ball of Fire was made in 1941 and features Gary Cooper as Prof. Bertram Potts who is researching slang words for an article in an encyclopedia. He meets the singer Sugarpuss O'Shea played by Barbara Stanwyck who teaches him about slang words while she is hiding from mobsters.

What do you think of this video clip with Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Krupa performing Drum Boogie? Tell me.

Dancing to save your sole: Al Norman

If you have been a long time reader of this blog you might remember the dancer Al Norman and his rubber legs. In the video clip above Al Norman dances in the number "Dancing To Save Your Sole" together with Nancy Carroll. The band is Abe Lyman and his Orchestra.

I think the clip is from Paramount on Parade from 1930 and that the presenter is Skeets Gallagher.

What do think of the video clip with Al Norman? Tell me.

Jitterbug contest in "Sten Stensson Sten kommer till stan"

Jitterbug dancing is rarely seen in Swedish films but one film where you can see it is the drama/comedy Sten Stensson Sten kommer till stan from 1945.

The amazing comedian Nils Poppe plays the main character Sten Stensson Sten, which is an student from the University of Lund in the south of Sweden. He is a good student but has maybe studied too many years and is caught up in the academic world.

In one scene he has arrived to Stockholm to tell the youth about the dangers of dancing and that dance will probably lead to criminality. He doesn't succeed in his mission but unvillingly gets dragged into a jitterbug competion.

Watch this hilarious video clip with Nils Poppe as Sten Stensson Sten in a jitterbug contest.

The girl who dances with Nils Poppe in the video clip is Ulla Norgren. If you know anything about her, let me know.

The song is "Hela Sverige dansar jitterbug" (Everybody in Sweden dances jitterbug). Music and lyrics by Nils Perne, Sven Paddock and Willard Ringstrand. The song is performed by Freddy Albeck with Gösta Tönnes orkester.

There is actually more dancing in the film in a scene directly before this one where you can see social dancing with dancers from Stockholm, probably from the swing dance club Honkytonk. In that scene some bigotry is shown because Sten Stensson Sten (unsuccessfully) tries to get stronger drinks (like vodka) at the dance hall but all that is served is coffee and soda.

Alcohol could certainly be a potential danger to society and lead to criminality while I can't think of any dance that in itself would be dangerous.

What do you think of the video clip with the jitterbug contest in "Sten Stensson kommer till stan"? Tell me.