It's always great to see these early Crosby clips. The mannerisms and stylistic embellishments remained largely unchanged over the years. And, boy, that guy could sing!
Popular music changed forever the day Bing opened his mouth and sang baritone scat. I could listen to this selection for hours. Bing's vocals, that is.
Hit send button to soon....to finish my thought...Bing's voice is the blueprint for all singers that followed.....however, Bing is simply the best....period!!!
I love this movie. It's called "Reaching for the Moon", and Doug Sr. is great! I loved the tribute Jean Dujardin gave Doug at this year's Golden Globes.
This clip is so wonderfully done; the continuity is absolutely superb; the whole thing just flows and the singing isn't prerecorded; it's all "sound-on-set" as was so often done in early musicals. No film crew in the US today could do this; it's a lost art.
I now understand that it IS Bebe, an amazing video. I love the way she "asks" for a dance and I prefer her singing to Bing's. Congratulations on a fine selection of videos.
I saw this clip once in the 1970s on TV in a special about the history of the movies. As I recall, supposedly this program was only going to be broadcast once. I don't think I've seen this scene since. Yes, this is definitely a dangerously wild party. Note the girl dancing by herself in an abandoned manner, whose mother (I assume) yanks her off her platform and shrieks "How DARE you?" "You may believe it or not When they start getting hot Oh, there's no Hottentot That's hotter than that - "
Yes, an edited version of this film soundtrack is included on the double CD "Bing Crosby - Going Hollywood, Vol 1: 1930-1936" (Jasmine JASCD 108/9). Apparently Bing never made a studio recording of it. Don't know if anyone else did.
Right, HarryLillis; this illustrating just how good Bing was, even during those immediate post-Al Rinker days. 78timothy's *forgettable* comment is crazy; this being a superb *talkie*, and made just four years after sound-on-film was introduced. Let's see any of today's performers try to replicate even a poor version of this; my knowing that they have neither the talent, the looks, the *spirit*, or even the mercurial essence of the age, that made these truly beautiful people what they were.
Amazing video! I would love to see the entire film-Bebe Daniels was a tremendous talent too bad she retired from films and moved to th UK-The creativity of the films of this period 1930's can never be surpassed!
I have the whole movie, that I posted this clip from. The producers had her made up strangely in this film. But, her voice is clearly recognizable. This IS Bebe Daniels AS SHE APPEARS just like this throughout the whole movie in her lead role as the Aviatrix.
Thanks for reply, but it does not seem possible. All of the videos of Bebe Daniels both prior and after the year of this film, show a much younger and slimmer woman. The woman in this video looks great, but quite heavy build and mature.
@HarryLillis It IS astonishing! The sheer effortlessness is truly remarkable. Sadly, it is interrupted by Bebe Daniels who wails tunelessly afterward. That Bing. They didn't call him Mr. Cool for nothing.
By 1930 the movie going public had had so many bad musicals foisted on them that they wouldn't even turn out for a good one. Under such conditions, UA chiefs felt that a hacked-up mish-mash of a picture with only one song in it was a better bet than a well-paced and entertaining picture with five songs. And as Gay points out below, Irving Berlin was so disgusted he didn't write another note for the movies for five years.
The band's arrangement is done for a baritone and, of course, for one octave higher which would be Daniels' alto. June McCoy, however, sings as a tenor which is a half-octave in between; see if you can catch where the arrangement changes key to accommodate her!
That voice coming out of that elegant blonde woman doesn't match her at all! The voice reminds me of the black lady singing in "Flying Down to Rio--The Carioca" , I think Etta Moten.
Who is the forceful woman at the beginning of the video, who sings in the bar with Crosby ? ........ She does not resemble either Daniels or McCloy ! Great slinky dresses and a great party.
Boy, oh boy...Edmund Goulding sure didn't exactly know how to film much a wonderful number, did he? Very stilted camera placements, unfortunately. By the way, this Irving Berlin song didn't seem to have been recorded by any dance band in 1931!
Lowdown black people (on Harlem's Lenox Avenue) vs. high-up white people (on Fifth Avenue) in performing that mean lowdown - that's what this song's about! "Lenox Avenue would know Of doin' the Lowdown But you'll find they're not alone In doin' the Lowdown Fifth Avenue's learnin' how They had to fall Fifth Avenue does it now And that's not all..." And then the "swells slow down, and become lowdown", as we see here - pretty much out of control, it seems to me.
It's always great to see these early Crosby clips. The mannerisms and stylistic embellishments remained largely unchanged over the years. And, boy, that guy could sing!
What a combination, Bebe Daniels and Bing Crosby.
What a party they had. Bebe Daniels and Crosby were awesome along with the rest of the partygoers. Thanks
I guess anyone who could afford to felt like partying as an escape from the depression. Bings voice during the 30s was simply amazing.
Popular music changed forever the day Bing opened his mouth and sang baritone scat. I could listen to this selection for hours. Bing's vocals, that is.
Bing was at his best in the late 20's and early 30's
Those were the days !!!
Hit send button to soon....to finish my thought...Bing's voice is the blueprint for all singers that followed.....however, Bing is simply the best....period!!!
Bing is the brightest star from the very beginning .....thank you Harry Lillis.
What great command Bing had from the beginning his career, his voice
'Tailor made' for Bing Crosby....a perfect vehicle for Bing at his prime!!!
Love this stuff!!
Oh, happy-happy days; more is the pity that it all couldn't have gone-on forever !
I love this movie. It's called "Reaching for the Moon", and Doug Sr. is great! I loved the tribute Jean Dujardin gave Doug at this year's Golden Globes.
This clip is so wonderfully done; the continuity is absolutely superb; the whole thing just flows and the singing isn't prerecorded; it's all "sound-on-set" as was so often done in early musicals.
No film crew in the US today could do this; it's a lost art.
I now understand that it IS Bebe, an amazing video. I love the way she "asks" for a dance
and I prefer her singing to Bing's.
Congratulations on a fine selection of videos.
Thanks this is fabulous. Such decor!
Bebe Daniels
Bing Crosby is actually SO YOUNG here he's still sporting his OWN HAIR!!!
I saw this clip once in the 1970s on TV in a special about the history of the movies. As I recall, supposedly this program was only going to be broadcast once. I don't think I've seen this scene since.
Yes, this is definitely a dangerously wild party. Note the girl dancing by herself in an abandoned manner, whose mother (I assume) yanks her off her platform and shrieks "How DARE you?"
"You may believe it or not
When they start getting hot
Oh, there's no Hottentot
That's hotter than that - "
great song
Yes, an edited version of this film soundtrack is included on the double CD "Bing Crosby - Going Hollywood, Vol 1: 1930-1936" (Jasmine JASCD 108/9).
Apparently Bing never made a studio recording of it. Don't know if anyone else did.
Right, HarryLillis; this illustrating just how good Bing was, even during those immediate post-Al Rinker days. 78timothy's *forgettable* comment is crazy; this being a superb *talkie*, and made just four years after sound-on-film was introduced. Let's see any of today's performers try to replicate even a poor version of this; my knowing that they have neither the talent, the looks, the *spirit*, or even the mercurial essence of the age, that made these truly beautiful people what they were.
I wrote this out for the Johnny Crawford Orchestra years ago.
Amazing video! I would love to see the entire film-Bebe Daniels was a tremendous talent too bad she retired from films and moved to th UK-The creativity of the films of this period 1930's can never be surpassed!
At about 2.50, the lady with the strong contralto voice, also sang in the Marx Bros Go West, and appeared in Good Morning Eve with Leon Errol.
Actually, "King Of Jazz" was his first film appearance, where he played himself in the "Rhythm Boys" trio.
So that young guy that looks like Bing really is Bing? Won't I just be gosh-darned!
June MacCloy is at about 2.40 the lady with the deep contralto voice
I have the whole movie, that I posted this clip from. The producers had her made up strangely in this film. But, her voice is clearly recognizable. This IS Bebe Daniels AS SHE APPEARS just like this throughout the whole movie in her lead role as the Aviatrix.
All Berlin's songs but this were cut out--Berlin left Hollywood in disgust till Top Hat
Thanks for reply, but it does not seem possible.
All of the videos of Bebe Daniels both prior and after the year of this film, show a much younger and slimmer woman. The woman in this
video looks great, but quite heavy build and mature.
The cocktail glasses, when this was illegal in the USA
@HarryLillis It IS astonishing! The sheer effortlessness is truly remarkable. Sadly, it is interrupted by Bebe Daniels who wails tunelessly afterward. That Bing. They didn't call him Mr. Cool for nothing.
I would die to have a piano roll or 78 of this!! Was this song ever released on piano roll or 78? Does anybody out there know? Thanks!
@swallin19 That's not a contralto voice; it's a TENOR voice and the orchestra has to change key to accommodate her.
@4MaryAnna I'm trying to figure WHO the blonde is. As Voltaire said in a casual conversation with Madame du Barry, "HUBBA HUBBA!".
By 1930 the movie going public had had so many bad musicals foisted on them that they wouldn't even turn out for a good one. Under such conditions, UA chiefs felt that a hacked-up mish-mash of a picture with only one song in it was a better bet than a well-paced and entertaining picture with five songs. And as Gay points out below, Irving Berlin was so disgusted he didn't write another note for the movies for five years.
@4MaryAnna She's "shakin' it." and that's probably her mom, not her grandmother.
Do you know about "shakin' it?"
Could have been a good movie... but they cut out all the music after the previews.
@core281 you know what makes a woman look temporarily more heavily built and mature...?
The band's arrangement is done for a baritone and, of course, for one octave higher which would be Daniels' alto.
June McCoy, however, sings as a tenor which is a half-octave in between; see if you can catch where the arrangement changes key to accommodate her!
That voice coming out of that elegant blonde woman doesn't match her at all! The voice reminds me of the black lady singing in "Flying Down to Rio--The Carioca" , I think Etta Moten.
I love the early movies. I've given you five stars, please check out my silent movie memorabilia vids (includes Bebe Daniels)
when you have time.
Who is the forceful woman at the beginning of the video, who sings in the bar with Crosby ?
........ She does not resemble either Daniels or McCloy !
Great slinky dresses and a great party.
Boy, oh boy...Edmund Goulding sure didn't exactly know how to film much a wonderful number, did he? Very stilted camera placements, unfortunately. By the way, this Irving Berlin song didn't seem to have been recorded by any dance band in 1931!
Lowdown black people (on Harlem's Lenox Avenue) vs. high-up white people (on Fifth Avenue) in performing that mean lowdown - that's what this song's about!
"Lenox Avenue would know
Of doin' the Lowdown
But you'll find they're not alone
In doin' the Lowdown
Fifth Avenue's learnin' how
They had to fall
Fifth Avenue does it now
And that's not all..."
And then the "swells slow down, and become lowdown", as we see here - pretty much out of control, it seems to me.
Love this stuff!!