Hi-De-Ho (1947)

Cab Calloway plays himself in a plot about jealousy, night clubs, and gangsters. Ends with a series of musical numbers.

Director:

Josh Binney

Writer:

Hal Seeger

Stars:

Cab Calloway, Ida James, Jeni Le Gon

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cab Calloway	...	Himself
Ida James	...	Nettie
Jeni Le Gon	...	Minnie
William Campbell	...	Sparks
Virginia Girvin	...	Sparks' fat friend
George Wiltshire	...	Boss Mason
James Dunmore	...	Mo the Mouse
Augustus Smith	...	Preacher
Edgar Martin	...	Jive Club owner
Leonard Rogers	...	Ralph
David Bethea	...	Brass Hat owner
Shepard Roberts	...	Police Sergeant
Frederick Johnson	...	Headwaiter

Storyline

Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive). All-black cast.

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Plot Keywords:

african american

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1947 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

All-American

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min 64 min (re-issue)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Cab takes the wounded Minnie back into his room, the furniture has changed position - the bed is now away from the wall and in the middle of the room, and the chair is in the corner of the room where the bed used to be.

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Soundtracks

"MINNIE'S A HEPCAT NOW"
Sung a capella by Cab Calloway

User Reviews

Must see TV

Well, you sure don't need to see it on the big screen...Hi De Ho is a slightly above average 'race' film that includes most of the trademarks of the genre: a slight story, a little comedy, and lots and lots of entertainment. Thankfully there's none of the moralising (well, not much) that characterises some of these films, like The Blood of Jesus. Cab Calloway is, of course, riveting, the music excellent, and the tap dancing scenes almost breathtaking --even when shot awkwardly.