Rhythm and Blues Revue is a plotless variety show, one of several compiled for theatrical exhibition from the made-for-television short films produced by Snader and Studio Telescriptions, with newly-filmed host segments by Willie Bryant. Originally 86 minutes, the "short" version available on public domain collections and websites is missing a reel
USA
USA
More fun from the stages of Harlem and the MCing of Wiilie Bryant, this time running at 71 of the full 86 minutes. Dogged with a fair bit of tedious comedy, and the print is in bad shape, but the perfomances pass muster (nice to see Herb Jeffries, the "Bronze Buckaroo", who lived to the ripe old age of 100 in 2014).
Period jazz and a comedy bit. Calloway does another rendition of Minnie the Moocher, but I think my favorites were by Lionel Hampton. Wouldn't mind seeing the missing reel from this edition.
I would have watched this just to see Big Joe Turner belt out "Shake Rattle and Roll" but we get Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole and Ruth Brown as well.
On the downside, we have to suffer through a lot of pretty bad "comedy" and some mediocre acts to get there. It was worth it to me, a fan of this musical era.
1955 was the year Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard raised the previous limits of human joy with their foundational texts in the field of rock 'n roll, but this threadbare-yet-priceless "concert" cheapie shows how much energy and variety had already been present in popular Black music since the turn of the 20th century.
The interstitial comedy skits are mostly abysmal, but you also get Nipsey Russell and Mantan Moreland doing their silver-tongued and celebrated "interruption" routine.
Like attending a top-notch concert/variety show from the comfort of your sofa. I loved seeing Lionel Hampton prominently featured.
More here:
cometoverhollywood.com/2023/02/20/musical-monday-rhythm-and-blues-revue-1955/
Music Performance:
The sound quality was not great. A click or hiccup on the soundtrack every 30 seconds or so. Herb Jeffries belts out a song while puffing on a cigarette, which struck me as funny. We hear Count Basie’s a la petite orchestra (just seven dudes). Sarah Vaughan makes an appearance, as does Nat King Cole. A young Nipsey Russell tells some jokes. Energetic Cab Calaway singing Minnie the Moocher was the cool cats meow. That soundtrack hiccup was annoying.
The copy of this I saw was in bad shape. The bad audio and picture quality are quickly overshadowed by its great performances. The comedy stuff doesn't hold up very well but the music performances are amazing with Cab Calloway, Count Basie and Big Joe Turner being the highlights. Seeing footage of these kinds of performers is always a great experience and this film definitely has its special moments.
I hear that most versions of this are missing a few minutes of footage. I'd love to know what's on there.
