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Soundie - A Jazz Etude (1941)

danced by Billy Burt


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Production Company: Castle Films
Audio/Visual: sound, B&W
Keywords: soundie

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: ERD - - June 9, 2008
Subject: Jazz Etude-entertaining
I found this 1941 Soundie entertaining. The jazz arrangement of "Flight of the Bumble Bee" was well done. The musicians and dancer were very talented.

Reviewer: autoguy - - September 18, 2006
Subject: Off the wall.
And it was supposed to be. Maybe no big names, but plenty of energy and some fair footwork. From an era when music was fun. Compare it to the c-rap we have to today? Definately 5 stars and worth the download!

Reviewer: Robot Mike - - May 9, 2006
Subject: Surreal
This soundie has some odd staging, and takes place on a very dark set. The first thing I thought when the tap dancer came out was: "Whoa--where's his body?" It's that dark. The lighting is pretty creative though; it makes the performers' hands, faces, and instruments stand out.

Add that to a fast paced unpredictable bit of piano jazz, and you've got one surreal soundie.

Apparently this flick came before Jiveroo, another soundie on the archive--which, by the way, is just as creepy. You can see Jiveroo's titlecard at the end.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - March 19, 2005
Subject: All that for..
Although at first, it LOOKS like some creative staging, and it somewhat is, you soon 'get' the staging and wonder why on earth it's staged like some Bunuel nightmare when all the guy is doing is tapdancing. Mind you, the set IS sort of neat... I guess the director wanted to show himself off.. Who knew that the fruit of his labour would be a Castle film?

Reviewer: Paul T Horgan - - August 4, 2004
Subject: Surreal minimalist musical interlude
The setting and the music give this soundie a mystical edge. The music is repetitive and the trio of double-bass players are somewhat sinister. The tapdancer dances away, but you don't really hear much of his taps, but the overall effect is memorable. One of the better soundies

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - January 7, 2004
Subject: Wow, Look at That Hoofin'!
A guy in white tie and tails does a tap dance to a peppy jazz tune. This soundie had my toes tappinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ***. Overall Rating: ***.