Klarinet Archive - Posting 000091.txt from 2004/10

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Movie about fictional clarinet player
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 10:07:50 -0400

And even worse, how often do we see a <voice> saxophone and hear a
<different voice> saxophone. Or, admittedly less common, see a clarinet and
hear a <voice> saxophone.

I can live with fingering problems. But nothing drives me crazier than
seeing one instrument on the screen and hearing another. Just last night I
was watching a TV show where they had a "live" band on the screen and a
synthesized band on the audio track. Ergh. I really have to stop watching TV.

"Mo' Better Blues" is a good example of convincing actor portrayals of
performing musicians. It would be perfect if only they had added a clarinet
player!

I recently stumbled on to a movie called "Orchestra Wives" (from, I think,
the early 40s). Absolutely dreadful movie, but centered around the Glenn
Miller Orchestra. If you can suffer the plot, you'll be greatly rewarded by
the music. A movie using real musicians and full length performances...
novel idea.

-Adam

At 06:45 AM 10/5/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>You are right about the actor needing to look convincing when
>playing the clarinet. One of the most awful things about "The
>Benny Goodman Story" (besides the stupidity of the movie itself)
>was the clarinet playing of the actor emulating Goodman, whose
>name escapes me. He had no idea what to do. The only thing he
>did correctly was to have the left hand on top and the right hand
>below it. Same thing is true with trumpet players. The actor
>will often press the third valve under the impression that this
>is a fingering for something.

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