Symphony in Swing

YOUR RATING

A Universal "Name Band Musical" with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra opening with "Take the 'A' Train", followed by "Suddenly It Jumped" which serves as accompaniment for the dancing of the... Read allA Universal "Name Band Musical" with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra opening with "Take the 'A' Train", followed by "Suddenly It Jumped" which serves as accompaniment for the dancing of the Edwards Sisters. Other numbers are; "Turquoise Cloud," "Knock Me a Kiss," and "Frankie an... Read allA Universal "Name Band Musical" with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra opening with "Take the 'A' Train", followed by "Suddenly It Jumped" which serves as accompaniment for the dancing of the Edwards Sisters. Other numbers are; "Turquoise Cloud," "Knock Me a Kiss," and "Frankie and Johnny."

Director
- Will Cowan
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

YOUR RATING

Director
- Will Cowan
Stars

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Soundtracks
Frankie and Johnnie
Traditional, arranged by Duke Ellington
Played by Duke Ellington Orchestra (as Duke Ellington and His Orchestra)
Sung by Duke Ellington

User reviews1

Featured review

9/10

534th Review: Brilliant Short Encapsulating Jazz Swing

Capturing the mastery and pure genius of Duke Ellington this is a hard to find short that definitely swings. It is split into four movements and each is accompanied by a story designed to fit the music.

Of course it is the music that makes this - Ellington really was responsible for orchestrating jazz and moving it from simple syncopation to something defined the swing jazz that Astaire and others would run with in the 1930s.

Symphony in Swing is also notable as it has an all Black cast - Ellington made several shorts where it is the Black Stars that shine and they hold up beautifully even today. The music is infectious and beautiful - and Symphony is more than just fun, it is serious entertainment, from the stories to the dancing - a wonderful evocation of Harlem and New York in its heyday.