Klarinet Archive - Posting 000230.txt from 1998/05

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Goodman and movies
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 09:41:08 -0400

On Wed, 6 May 1998, Edwin V. Lacy wrote:

> 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.

Actually, no, it was entertaining. Thanks Edwin. I feel like I just
watched a couple of classic black & white films...in digest form!

Neil

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