This old one reeler featuring numbers from Vincent Lopez and his orchestra is a precursor to modern music videos and is ten minutes of pure gold. I caught it as a 'One Reel Wonders' segment on the US cable channel Turner Classic Movies, which must mean it is an old MGM short. At any rate, I was blown away. This is a must have for Jazz enthusiasts. It features an insane young Betty Hutton, circa 17 years old, in one of her first film appearance. Her sexy, husky voice, and her care free bouncing off the walls (literally) manner immediately catches your attention. She sings and dances, if you could call it that, to two songs, most memorably a very cool and slightly bizarre version of the rare jazz classic 'Old Man Mose'. It is both mesmerizing and funny at the same time.
The short opens with a goofy number where the band pokes fun at Lopez's signature song 'Enola', this is followed by an old western number 'Ride Tenderfoot Ride', sung by Johnny Russell and featuring whistling sensation Fred Lowery. Then a jumping instrumental number called 'Swinging With The Goon' (I love that title) and finally 'Old Man Mose'. A must see for hipsters and old timey folks alike.
The short opens with a goofy number where the band pokes fun at Lopez's signature song 'Enola', this is followed by an old western number 'Ride Tenderfoot Ride', sung by Johnny Russell and featuring whistling sensation Fred Lowery. Then a jumping instrumental number called 'Swinging With The Goon' (I love that title) and finally 'Old Man Mose'. A must see for hipsters and old timey folks alike.