Rhythm in a Riff (1947)

Directed by

Leonard Anderson

Genre

musical film

Country

United States

Runtime

45 min

Rating

8.0 of 10 from 1 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A bandleader searches for a gig while his band performs songs and dances. The film features Billy Eckstine singing and leading his band.

livelyupbeatenergeticmusicalnostalgiclighthearted

What happens

Rhythm in a Riff is a 1947 medium-length musical film produced by William D. Alexander and directed by Leonard Anderson. The film stars Billy Eckstine and his band performing, as well as Ann Baker, Hortense Allen Jordan, Sarah Harris, and Emmett "Babe" Wallace. The film is extant. Made in New York City, it was released by Astor Pictures. Targeted to an African American audience, the film features an African American cast and was produced and directed by African Americans. The film is also known as Flicker Up. The film features various songs performed by Eckstine, who served as the film's hero. He sings, conducts, and performs solo in the film. Several soundies were made from excerpts of the film. "Lonesome Lover Blues" is one of the songs Eckstine performs in the film. A September 1949 review in the Indianapolis Recorder described the film as "jampacked full of music, pep, and vitality" and praised Eckstine's acting performance as a bandleader in search of a gig. Hortense Allen dances in the film. She was shown footage of her performance in the film 50 years after it was made. The dancer, choreographer, costume designer, and producer said it was the first time she ever saw herself dance. Oakton Community College has a poster for the film. The film was rereleased on video in 1993 along with some footage of Dizzy Gillespie under the title Dizzy Gillespie/Billy Eckstine: Things To Come (Vintage Jazz Classics Video VJC-2006). Clips from the film were used in the 2004 Storyville Films release The Black Big Bands. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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