Jimmie Lunceford and His Dance Orchestra (1936)

In Hell, Satan appears to tell us that rhythm is coming to life again, then we're taken to a sound stage where Jimmie Lunceford conducts his dance orchestra. He's in black tie and a tuxedo ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Henabery

Stars:

Jimmie Lunceford, The Three Brown Jacks, Myra Johnson

Cast

Credited cast:
Jimmie Lunceford	...	Himself
The Three Brown Jacks	...	Themselves
Myra Johnson	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra	...	Themselves

Storyline

In Hell, Satan appears to tell us that rhythm is coming to life again, then we're taken to a sound stage where Jimmie Lunceford conducts his dance orchestra. He's in black tie and a tuxedo of white tales and black trousers. He announces that rhythm is our business, and that's the orchestra's first number, with vocal, sax, bass, and trumpet solos. Myra Johnson sings "You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes" in her animated style, the Three Brown Jacks tap dance, and the short closes with two up-tempo numbers with two sax players tap dancing and the horn players taking off their tux coats to start a make-shift percussion section.

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Plot Keywords:

big band | vitaphone melody master | character name in title

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Genres:

Short | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Melody Masters: Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vitaphone production reel #2062

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Soundtracks

"Moonlight on the Ganges"
(uncredited)
Music by Sherman Wallace
Lyrics by Chester Wallace
Performed by the Three Brown Jacks (tap dancers), with Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra

User Reviews

Some Good Music and Dancing

Jimmie Lunceford And His Dance Orchestra (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Another in Warner's long-running series of shorts that would take a look at (then) current big bands. As usual, we don't get anything too fancy visually but that's made up for in some great music. I'm not sure how many people have heard of Jimmie Lunceford, I know I hadn't, but this is a very good short that contains some great music and dancing. I was a little bummed out to see that Lunceford didn't make any more of these shorts, which is a shame but at least what we have here is entertaining. The most interesting and entertainment segment of the short belongs to The Three Brown Jacks doing some great dance moves. "Rhythm Is Our Business", apparently the band's biggest hit, kicks the short off and things never slow down for the ten-minutes. Myra Johnson sings "You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes", which is another winner.