User Reviews

This is an unusual inclusion in a collection of almost exclusively Black performers from the Harlem Renaissance era. I say unusual because Vincent Lopez was Hispanic. However, the tunes they play are those of Black artists--so perhaps that is why it's included--though the singers seemed very white-bread and lacked soul--as if this was a sanitized version of the music intended for a much wider audience of the day (sort of like when Pat Boone sang Little Richard's "Tuti Fruiti" and outsold the original because White kids bought Boone's albums). Fortunately, the music itself seemed to retain its integrity a bit more--though the songs were oddly sped up quite a bit. Not bad overall, but one of the weakest inclusions on the DVD "Hollywood Rhythm: Volume One".

Vincent Lopez and his orchestra play a very nice version of W. C. Handy's St. Louis Blues, with a nice orchestration and several good solos. The trombone solo is very good, and I must admit that I've never heard a better jazz piccolo, mostly because this is the only time I've heard a jazz piccolo.

At least it's not the shock when I encountered a jazz bagpiper, which was, to choose the kindest word I can think of in the context, startling.

The whole thing is shot in low lighting with shadowy figures painted on the wall. My only cavil is that everyone was smiling broadly. I know it's a happy thing to be in the movies, guys, but don't look so glad when you'll singing about your misery.

This musical short that I discovered on the Kino DVD-Hollywood Rhythm Vol. 1: The Best of Jazz and Blues-has bandleader Vincent Lopez just basically performing the W. C. Handy composition, "St. Louis Blues", which is on another short of the same name on this DVD that stars Bessie Smith. Unlike many of the other shorts there, there is no contrived plot. It's just Lopez with his orchestra and chorus performing with the music's end the short's as well. And despite many cuts and the fact this is in black-and-white, you may feel you're in the audience enjoying a live show. So on that note, Those Blues is worth a look for music fans of the '30s decade.

Those Blues (1932)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Those familiar with Turner Classic Movies will probably know the name Vincent Lopez as his name shows up in a handful of shorts that appear on the station in between movies. These later shorts from Warner are certainly better known than this one here, which catches Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra years before the bigger studio would put him on film. At just five-minutes there's not any room for a plot so instead we're treated to the band doing St. Louis Blues. That's pretty much it but I thought the band did a pretty good job on the song but it's a shame the director wasn't a little more interested in the visuals as the film was shot extremely flat and without much energy. This short can be found on Kino's Hollywood Rhythm Vol. 1, which also features another short called ST. LOUIS BLUES that has Bessie Smith playing the song. It's certainly much better but this one here is recommended for those familiar with Lopez and his later work.