User Reviews

This, along with 4 other Metro Movietone Revues, is available on THE Broadway MELODY DVD. My comments are only about this first one. It's a 14 minute presentation of four musical acts, without a live audience. The MC is the very effeminate Harry Rose. The program starts with the diminutive, androgynous singer Grace Rogers singing a song I couldn't recognize. Mr. Rose introduces each act saying they will sing a made up "humorous" song title.

Then the team of Gus Van and Joe Schenck sing "Stay Out of the South (If You Want to Miss a Heaven on Earth)"; one of many examples of the sub-genre of "idyllic South" songs, usually sung in a fake Negro accent. Sample line "If you don't like darkies hummin' - if you don't like banjos strummin' - stay out of the south". No wonder "Strange Fruit" was such a shock.

The MC then does a humorous number about "Frankfurter Sandwiches". Last is the Capitolines, a small orchestra, doing what seems like a medley of themes - that was the number I liked best.

I have 37 CDs of music from the 1920's. Louis Armstrong, Carter Family, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Rodgers, Bessie Smith - their music is remembered - for a reason. The average popular tunes you might have heard on a stage in that time have been mostly forgotten - also for a reason. I'd rate this entertainment a 4. I will say it sounds a little more appealing if you watch it right after THE Broadway MELODY, immersing yourself somewhat in that musical era's frame of mind.

This was the first of the Metro Movietone Revues I watched on The Broadway Melody DVD. It's host was Harry Rose who I found partially amusing. This first act was Grace Rogers. Then there was Gus Van and Joe Schenck, who I first viewed on a Vitaphone short that's now on The Jazz Singer DVD set, singing about the South. Then Harry does a number called "Frankfurter Sandwiches". And lastly, there was a band called The Capitolians that I liked best while watching. I usually review these after just viewing them but since I didn't know these were even listed here, I'm just now commenting on them after watching them one by one. So on that note, this Metro Movietone Revue was a pleasant enough experience.

Grace Rogers, the little girl in the Movietone Review, also appeared, much more grown up, in the movie "Dames" with Dick Powell. She sings a number with him. I am fairly certain it was that movie, it also had James Cagney in it. It was one of the Busby Berkely movies. The M.C. Harry Rose, I wish there was some more info about him. I found him most entertaining, like Jack Benny (anybody remember him) but even better. And his rendition of "My Mammy" was I think better than Al' Jolson's (he also was a famous singer of the day, known at "the world's greatest entertainer"! But I also would guess he too is forgotten, more or less, except by old people, and they won't be here much longer. Can you imagine a current day street teenager being interested in any such singers? And they are the ones who will soon rule the world. Glad I won't be around!

I think vosamis-1 may be mistaken when he says that Grace Rogers was in 'Dames' - sadly she was not - but Jean Rogers was! It was Jean Rogers who turned up (uncredited) in 'Footlight Parade' with James Cagney and Dick Powell, directed by Lloyd Bacon - maybe this is the movie vosamis-1 is talking about. There was also a Barbara Rogers in that same movie - who played a character called 'Gracie' .. Here I think, is where vosamis-1's has been confused! By the way, Jean Rogers is I think best remembered as a blonde 'Dale Arden' in a couple of early 'Flash Gordon' serials! I agree with vosamis-1 about Harry Rose - a funny and entertaining man - aka Jack Benny! I also would love to know more about him. He came from my parents home town here in the UK - Leeds in Yorkshire. When did he leave Yorkshire and how did he end up in Hollywood? Someone out there must know!