Newspaper columnist "Mr. Inquisitive" phones various people in an unnamed city and asks them what they would like to be doing. It turns out that they would like to sing (and dance), and do so. Mr Inquisitive then sings back to them "I'm Much Obliged".
This obscure short features two typically obnoxious leads (who can't muster a funny joke between them). Fortunately, though, the musical acts, while not top rank, are good second tier people who keep the short interesting, if you have any liking for the music of the 30s.
Vera Van is a torch singer with a nice alto voice (think Alice Faye with maybe 50% of the talent), who gets in a nice gloom despair and misery number, plus a jazzier tune later on.
Rosita & Fontana do an elegant Latin dance to an elegant Latin number. Nothing terribly interesting, but far better than the comedy from the leads.
Lester Cole (accompanied by a manly male chorus) sings Western tunes in an operetta style. Since the tunes themselves are pretty good, this works OK, though anyone looking for Western Swing will be surprised to find a "hayseed" Nelson Eddy.
The Heat Waves are a little tap dancing/jive singing group. They do rather well with Jimmie Lunceford's Rhythm Is our Business, and the little specialty number they have later on. This a fun group (backed by a decent band) that I wish I knew more about.
This is worth 20 minutes.
This obscure short features two typically obnoxious leads (who can't muster a funny joke between them). Fortunately, though, the musical acts, while not top rank, are good second tier people who keep the short interesting, if you have any liking for the music of the 30s.
Vera Van is a torch singer with a nice alto voice (think Alice Faye with maybe 50% of the talent), who gets in a nice gloom despair and misery number, plus a jazzier tune later on.
Rosita & Fontana do an elegant Latin dance to an elegant Latin number. Nothing terribly interesting, but far better than the comedy from the leads.
Lester Cole (accompanied by a manly male chorus) sings Western tunes in an operetta style. Since the tunes themselves are pretty good, this works OK, though anyone looking for Western Swing will be surprised to find a "hayseed" Nelson Eddy.
The Heat Waves are a little tap dancing/jive singing group. They do rather well with Jimmie Lunceford's Rhythm Is our Business, and the little specialty number they have later on. This a fun group (backed by a decent band) that I wish I knew more about.
This is worth 20 minutes.