A musical comedy that could withstand any other production since it was done straight forward in front of the cameras and no dubbing was used. It's therefore a remarkable production. It's a pity that no comment has been given on the part of James Stewart's handling the harmonica in such an excellent way. It was Jerry Adler, the younger brother of Larry, that taught James how to hold the harmonica in a professional way. One would think he is really playing himself. As a harmonica player myself, I was disappointed by the fact that the harmonica band were stand-in players, and not the real "Cappy Barra Harmonica Band." Overall an excellent and entertaining movie with some of the best musicians in the business at that time.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Smart Politics
(1948)
Smart Politics (1948)
25 December 2004
Correction about Harmonica Players in this movie.
They were not The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys but "The Harmonica Boys" with: George Offerman (stand-in) Dick Paxton (stand-in) George Fields (Chromatic Harmonica Player) Don Ripps (Bass Harmonica Player) Both Fields and Ripps were outstanding harmonica players. Fields had been with The Cappy Barras and Ripps with The Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, The Cappy Barras and The Harmonica Ripples. Ripps has passed away but Fields is living in Palm Springs. Movie comment: Average "High School movie" but the Harmonica playing is excellent on two occasions. The sound tracks were dubbed by Fields and Ripps for, the two stand-ins in order to give it a quartet sound. The dubbing by these two excellent players is of a high standard. A movie well worth having, especially for Harmonica Players!
They were not The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys but "The Harmonica Boys" with: George Offerman (stand-in) Dick Paxton (stand-in) George Fields (Chromatic Harmonica Player) Don Ripps (Bass Harmonica Player) Both Fields and Ripps were outstanding harmonica players. Fields had been with The Cappy Barras and Ripps with The Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, The Cappy Barras and The Harmonica Ripples. Ripps has passed away but Fields is living in Palm Springs. Movie comment: Average "High School movie" but the Harmonica playing is excellent on two occasions. The sound tracks were dubbed by Fields and Ripps for, the two stand-ins in order to give it a quartet sound. The dubbing by these two excellent players is of a high standard. A movie well worth having, especially for Harmonica Players!
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