I love the "big band" musicals of the 1940s. Plots are meaningless. I watch for the musical numbers and thus one doesn't disappoint. From the opening number, I Never Knew, the expanded band plays great. Only with an MGM budget would you find Kyser with 5 trumpets, 5 trombones and six saxophones. The chart, presumably by George Dunning, is excellent. The band in that scene is directed by Harry Babbit is tight and swingin'.
The Lena Horne performance in a nightclub is nice, but not a great tune.
"I Planted a Rose", sung by Harry Babbitt in a production number is as good as many typical movie tunes of the era.
"One Girl and Two Boys" is a fine production number with some excellent jitterbug dancing and lots of soldiers, sailors and marines.
These big band era musicals of the WW2 era were made mostly to rntertain the war weary troops and the folks back home. They should viewed and judged with that in mind.
Kyser and his band were big business in the era and they lifted the morale of everyone. They deserve respect for that.
The Lena Horne performance in a nightclub is nice, but not a great tune.
"I Planted a Rose", sung by Harry Babbitt in a production number is as good as many typical movie tunes of the era.
"One Girl and Two Boys" is a fine production number with some excellent jitterbug dancing and lots of soldiers, sailors and marines.
These big band era musicals of the WW2 era were made mostly to rntertain the war weary troops and the folks back home. They should viewed and judged with that in mind.
Kyser and his band were big business in the era and they lifted the morale of everyone. They deserve respect for that.