Klarinet Archive - Posting 000228.txt from 1998/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Goodman and movies
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 09:20:35 -0400

On Tue, 5 May 1998, James D. Lytthans wrote:

> By the way: what's the name of the silly film that set Goodman as a
> square college professor introduced to jazz?

1. "The Gang's All Here," 1943, directed by Busby Berkeley. Starring
Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Benny Goodman and his orchestra, and many
others. Quoting Leonard Maltin: "2.5 stars; A corny but visually
dazzling wartime musical." Carmen Miranda sings "The Lady with the
Tutti-Frutti Hat," and Goodman sings "Paducah, Paducah."

2. "A Song is Born," 1948, directed by Howard Hawkes. Starring Danny
Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Barnet,
Lionel Hampton and Tommy Dorsey. Also appearing but not credited in the
listing I have is Mel Powell, at that time a jazz pianist, who was to
become widely known and respected as a composer in a more "classical"
vein. Again quoting Maltin: "2.5 stars; A group of dowdy intellectuals
need to learn about jazz to write an intelligent entry for their upcoming
encyclopedia." It's the usual insipid story about a bunch of nerdy
musicologists who become converted to jazz. The collection of somewhat
musically incompatible jazz players participate in some unlikely jam
sessions. There is also an interesting drummer in the group. I can't
remember now who it was, but it might be Barrett Deems, who was playing
with Armstrong about that time.

OK, that's probably more than anyone wanted to know about that.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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