Ever watch a hum-drum movie one late night on the tube, get ready to go to bed but suddenly comes a scene that just makes you happy? Such is the case for this musical duet by the great Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong and Danny Kaye. I didn't think the movie was that enjoyable--strictly for Danny Kaye fans I guess--but when Louis Armstrong is on screen with the star of the show, it's a real moment in music and movie-making. I taped the movie the next time it came around on cable just to watch this "When the Saints Go Marching In" sequence again.
"The Five Pennies" is just a typical 1950's sentimental biopic The plot is about a real-life 1920's white jazz guy named Red Nichols and the film evokes the music and zeitgeist of America's first Jazz Age about as well as I sing Wagner.
The storyline is similar to a lot of movies made in the wake of the success of "The Glenn Miller Story" (1955) with James Stewart: a successful musician (or actor , or athlete, or yoga instructor, whatever) rises up from obscurity to the spotlight, then has to deal with the loss/disaffection of his faithful wife and cute little kids, his fair-weather friends, the end of his musical career by changing tastes in pop culture, alcoholism, egotism, his bad temper, itchy skin, a German U-Boat attack on his yacht, a persistant case of dandruff caused by black-market diluted shampoo, yada-yada-yada. Well, if you've seen a movie like it, then you get the idea. But here's the best three minutes in the film and, if you like jazz and a little scat singing, you've come to the right place.
doug, your succinct explanation, bested the original review, am sure of that!!
ReplyDeletelaughing. Has your wife ever suggested you be a writer? !
You should join United Friends Challenge and hone your pencils, and sharpen your wit even more!!
Check out their site, here. I am wrting later tonight a bunch of stories, I caught myself blogging too politically of late, need to refresh my mind a little, in 'fantasy land' again ... come back to earth!!!
thanks for the great review, and the clip. This was on TV here, on one of those dog days of summer, I think ...
Not only has she suggested it, she helped me a great, great deal in self-publishing a novel I wrote a few years ago. The link to the site is below:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cursedspite.com/
Thanks for the suggestion Catherine. I could always use the honing of what skill I've got in that area.
Doug, I remember this film after watching your video. Jazz is my very favorite type of music. Most older lyrics I can recall in bits 'n pieces, but now instrumentals are the preferred choice for my ears. Your review was excellent.
ReplyDeleteThank you gypsy. It's amazing what you run across on You Tube. I can't say there's one type of period of jazz I like but I graviatate to the older stuff (pre-Odette Coleman/free jazz you might say ) for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI grew up listening to various anthologies, lots of Swing Music, ended up getting the Smithsonian's collection of American jazz, a history, of sorts to the 1970's. Mine were purchased in the 1980's. Was good, listened to it, and later sold it a few years ago, at a garage sale. I didn't pay a lot for it, so I figured someone without a lot of space bought it. Otherwise you end up never playing them all, if you had a record for each one on the anthology. One of my all time favorites, was and still is 'The Old Lamplighter", and another fave, is the song "A Nightengale Sang ..." and "I'll Be Seein' You", a snappier song is one by Xavier Cugat: 'Hold That Tiger", and my last one I keep forgetting, is "Nature Boy," by Nat "King" Cole, funny the guy who wrote it, just disappeared, according to the story, surrounding the song. I may have that in the original record, either a "Bluebird", or a different pressing ... maybe a 'Mercury'?
ReplyDeleteoh well, that's about all, probably jangled some memories loose for you!!
Yes, indeed. Heard lot of Armstrong music growing up of course on 'jazz" programs on the radio. I started collecting Benny Goodman Big Band music on the Bluebird reissues in the 1980's. (Cassettes back then.) "Camel Hop", "Where or When?", "King Porter Stomp", et al. I think the first jazz record I went out and bought was Ellington's "Take the A-Train" on a .45. Bix Biederbecke was one of the white musicians Armstrong respected, but he died so young that was tragic. "Clementine (From New Orleans)" should probably be in any jazz collection.
ReplyDeleteAlways had a fondness for the snappier arrangements, although I had an early fondness for the "cool jazz" of Miles Davis and Gerry Mulligan. A lot of my friends were into Charlie Parker and Dizzy before I was but I had to get older before I really appreciated them.
Nat King Cole had a magic voice He's American music to me.
Ken Burns' documentary "Jazz" was a great series. Hope you got a chance to see some of that.
I may not recall all the songs, you mentioned, by title, but probably WOULD recognize if played, Yes, Nat had a velvety voice, I recall the Mel Torme, specials they used to have, and PBS? American Masters series - did they do a Mel Torme tribute program? well his 'Chestnut Song' was fun, and so beautiful by Cole, and I remember the Gershwins, Ira and George, such dapper gentlemen, and wonderful musicians, as well, sad George died young too? (I think). Used to like hearing their music on the various anthologies, plus later on individual records, around here. Bix, I had an older woman friend years ago, whom talked to me of him, he was quite the musician. Ellington, pure genius. Never be another like him.
ReplyDeleteI can't say was all that fond of women who sang with groups, back then, probably the most common one you think of was Helen O'Connell. Hope I have name right. And then Rosemary Clooney, before she got all messed by the drugs and booze and poor choices in men, after her starry rise in the 1940-1950's. Sad, she could have taken charge, but ended up like Judy Garland, or (Frances Gumm).-minus the od in the end, though her weight Rosemary added hurt her.
What a world, eh?
You do have a way with words. You also look at things deifferently than I do. I wish I had half your writing ability. I enjoyed the clip. I think I like it better without Danny Kaye. He is a good singer but he does not compliment Mr Armstrong. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI never really got into Danny Kaye as a solo performer---it's true that Armstrong creates most of the magic here. Kaye was very talented, no question, but I can't think of a single film he ever did that I wanted to see twice. My mom used to like watching "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and him when it came on tv. Used to like Crosby more before I found out he beat his kids regularly.
ReplyDeleteI like your blogs. You do have a lot of writing talent.
those kid beaters, really hurt, didn't they, seemed like once the old studio system with all the inherent magical quality surrounding them, that vaporised once you heard of Sinatra's satanism with Aleister Crowley, and his son? Nephew? who trolled around with the Rat pack as well, and a lot of the abusive behaviors no one could fathom ... Daddy the Devil on one hand and Mommy Dearest, a la Joan Crawford on the other ... sad, when you think of the opportunities , no different than today, maybe society coddled them more and you did not see it in your face, like now.
ReplyDeleteYou are far to kind!!!
ReplyDelete