Jivin' in Be-Bop | |
---|---|
Directed by | Leonard Anderson Spencer Williams |
Written by | Powell Lindsay |
Produced by | William D. Alexander |
Starring |
Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra Helen Humes |
Cinematography | Don Malkames |
Edited by | Gladys Brothers |
Production company | Alexander Productions |
Distributed by | Alexander Distributing Company Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 57 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Jivin' in Be-Bop is a 1947 musical film produced by William D. Alexander and starring Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra, [1] which included notable musicians such as bassist Ray Brown, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, and pianist John Lewis. [2] It also features singers Helen Humes and Kenny "Pancho" Hagood, Master of Ceremonies Freddie Carter, and a group of dancers. [2]
The film consists of a plotless revue presented in a theatrical setting, offering a total of 19 musical and dance numbers. Gillespie and his band are shown performing eight songs, including " Salt Peanuts", "One Bass Hit", " Oop Bop Sh'Bam" and "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped". The band plays off-camera while dancers perform during the remaining songs, which include "Shaw 'Nuff", " A Night in Tunisia", "Grosvenor Square" and " Ornithology". [2] [3]
The liner notes that accompany the DVD release suggest the tracks were prerecorded. [4] One of Gillespie's biographers confirms this, [5] although at least one critic believes the musicians were playing live. [4]
The dance sequences have been described as "dull and frequently silly" by writer Phil Hall, who wrote that Jivin' in Be-Bop includes "one of the worst ballets ever put on film". [6] Gillespie's dancing, on the other hand, is generally praised. One writer said "his unique technique is shown to great effect" in the film. [7] One biographer described Gillespie "skipping about the stage", [8] and another wrote that Gillespie was "quite happy to dance to the band's sounds, ... spinning around and mugging in front of the band". [5]
Between songs, Carter tells jokes and banters with Gillespie. Film historian Donald Bogle described the comic routines as "dull-witted". [9] Bogle went on: "There are only two redeeming factors here: namely Dizzy Gillespie and vocalist Helen Humes. Otherwise the proceedings are pretty dreary." [9]
A 1993 video, Things to Come, included the eight on-screen performances by Gillespie and the band from Jivin' in Be-Bop, together with some numbers from another Alexander-produced musical, Rhythm in a Riff, which featured Billy Eckstine. [10] [11]
Jivin' in Be-Bop was released on DVD in 2004. The between-song banter between Carter and Gillespie was cut. [6] [12] According to one reviewer, the DVD was produced from a badly damaged print, which made portions of the film "unwatchable". [4]