Popular reviews

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  Review by RKO_Chester ★★★

  Best song: 'Honey-Coloured Moon' (by performer: Hildegarde -- who made single-names popular)

  A day in the life of orchestra leader Henry Hall & several groups of his avid listeners (on a residential street, aboard an ocean liner, at a British contingent's HQ in Africa & a few others) on just one day. Hall was a big band leader/personality in Britain back in the old days.

  This movie is interesting in that Hall's radio orchestra plays daily at 5:15 and the movie shows how Hall's music affects certain events for these people BECAUSE they were/are listening to Henry Hall. Hall also has an adventure during the afternoon trying to get to the studio on time.

  6.25/10

  2021 February (a song & dance month for me): See my Hits & Misses Here

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  Review by Fint ★★½

  Lots of pretty tunes and spiffing big band arrangements - and that's about it. The interlinking stories about how everybody listens to Henry Hall and his Orchestra on the BBC making their lives are immeasurably better because of it are lame in the extreme and raise a shrug more than a titter. But the tunes are jolly good and Henry Hall was quite the megastar in 1936 if this film is to be believed.

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  Review by PUNQ ★½

  Unfortunately this rare British musical doesn't possess a hint of the charm it thinks it does. An attempt to take advantage of orchestra leader Henry Hall's popularity from radio and general recordings. Considering he only appeared in one more movie, I guess it's safe to say his talents wasn't made for the visual arts. And that's pretty evident watching this musical rump.

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  Review by loureviews ★★

  I L<3ve Musicals!

  An odd programmer featuring the music of Henry Hall's BBC orchestra - sadly, Hall (1898-1989) has little charisma even playing himself and is far better with a baton in the numerous musical interludes. Nice enough as a band hall piece of entertainment, but poor as a film as it displays no dramatic value whatsoever.

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  Review by Jumpingfrog ★★★½

  This odd little film is clearly an attempt to cash in on the popularity of BBC dance band leader Henry Hall and turn him into a film star, however probably due to his lack of any discernible personality it didn't really work. The plot, what there is of it, tells several separate stories all linked by listening to Hall's music over the radio. The film tries hard to be zany and occasionally pulls it off, although it's equally tiresome. Much can be forgiven though as there is a lot of music, occasionally featuring the great vocalist Hildegarde. The film's highlight is the number "Just Little Bits and Pieces" performed as the members of the band struggle to get to the studio. A piece of entertainment history, a pop video 1930's style, good fun if you like this sort of thing.