Today, this Vitaphone movie short from World War II plays like a big band swing music video spotlighting the Harry Warren/Al Dubin ditty, "You've Got To Know How To Dance." The one-reeler begins with The Six Hits and a Miss warbling the lyrics, the Miss singing lead, the Six Hits surrounding her as backup chorus and harmony. The Six Hits and A Miss were popular rivals to such swing acts as The Andrews Sisters until the war intervened and took two of the Six Hits away to join Uncle Sam overseas. Somehow, The Four Hits and a Miss just didn't jell with the public. As a result, the top of their career, performing in the Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney extravaganza, "Girl Crazy," was also their swan song.
Though the Six Hits and a Miss begin and end the short, most of the film consists of inserts from the lackluster musical "Colleen," featuring Ruby Keeler and Paul Draper emulating Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire with some showy tap dancing. The choreography utilized in the "Colleen" sequence is obviously influenced (or maybe copied is a better word) by that of the inimitable Busby Berkeley.
"Six Hits and a Miss" is recommended for big band swing fans who enjoy the music of the World War II era. Others beware.