My summary is advice for what to do if you watch this film today, as if you are not 100% prepared, you might blow a gasket! This is because although the film is a nice retrospective of black American entertainers of the day, it also has a lot of race elements that would offend and embarrass a lot of folks today. So be prepared when you see some of the minstrels, outrageous costumes and the ways that a few of the acts behave...this was the time in which the film was made. I'm not excusing it--just explaining about the times. And, although the film sure has its flaws, compared to the way blacks were treated in many previous films, it's actually a good deal more sensitive than it might have been. In other words, watch the movie and understand it in its context. If you do this it should be a lot easier to appreciate the production.
Speaking of appreciation, the film is an amazing assemblage of talent including Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway and his orchestra, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers--and quite a few other wonderful entertainers from the era. And, if you didn't have films like this and a few shorts, there would be little record of these acts. Are these the very best performances by these folks? In some cases, not--probably because the studio wanted a 'nice' product (in other words, highly sanitized) for widespread consumption by black and white audiences alike. And, there isn't a lot in the way of plot development here. However, if you'd like more representative works of the acts as they would have actually appeared in real life on stage, you might try watching many of the old Vitaphone short subject films--with many of these same folks starring in them.
Speaking of appreciation, the film is an amazing assemblage of talent including Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway and his orchestra, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers--and quite a few other wonderful entertainers from the era. And, if you didn't have films like this and a few shorts, there would be little record of these acts. Are these the very best performances by these folks? In some cases, not--probably because the studio wanted a 'nice' product (in other words, highly sanitized) for widespread consumption by black and white audiences alike. And, there isn't a lot in the way of plot development here. However, if you'd like more representative works of the acts as they would have actually appeared in real life on stage, you might try watching many of the old Vitaphone short subject films--with many of these same folks starring in them.