Rhythm in a Riff

Last updated
Rhythm in a Riff
Directed by Leonard Anderson
Produced by William D. Alexander
Starring Billy Eckstine
Music byBilly Eckstine
Distributed by Astor Pictures
Release date
  • 1947 (1947)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Rhythm in a Riff is a 1947 medium length musical film produced by William D. Alexander and directed by Leonard Anderson. [1] The film stars Billy Eckstine and his band performing as well as Ann Baker, Hortense Allen Jordan, Sarah Harris, and Emmett "Babe" Wallace. [2] [3] The film is extant. The film was.made in New York City. [4] It was released by Astor Pictures. The film was targeted to am African American audience, features an African American cast, and was produced and directed by African Americans. The film is also known as Flicker Up. [5]

Contents

The film features various songs performed by Eckstine, [6] who served as the film's hero. [7] He sings, conducts, and performs solo in the film. [8] Several soundies were made from excerpts of the film. [9]

"Lonesome Lover Blues" is one of the songs Eckstine performs in the film. [10]

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. [11]

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. [12]

Oakton Community College has a poster for the film. [13] 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). [14] Clips from the film were used in the 2004 Storyville Films release The Black Big Bands

Cast

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References

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  2. "Celluloid Improvisations ♫ LEARN". www.jazz-on-film.com.
  3. Pitts, Michael R. (2019-04-25). Astor Pictures: A Filmography and History of the Reissue King, 1933–1965. McFarland. p. 136. ISBN   978-1-4766-7649-4 via Google Books.
  4. Stratemann, Klaus (November 29, 1981). Negro Bands on Film: Big bands, 1928–1950. Verlag Uhle & Kleimann. ISBN   978-3-922657-18-7 via Google Books.
  5. Moon, Spencer; Allen, Linda (November 29, 1997). Reel Black Talk: A Sourcebook of 50 American Filmmakers. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN   978-0-313-29830-1 via Google Books.
  6. "RHYTHM IN A RIFF". Library of Congress.
  7. "Eckstine, Millinder Make Pix to Hypo Tour Grosses". Billboard. July 27, 1946 via Google Books.
  8. Jackson, Kenneth T.; Markoe, Karen; Markoe, Arnie; Markoe, Arnold (November 29, 2001). The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: 1991–1993. Vol. 3. Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN   978-0-684-80492-7 via Google Books.
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  11. "Indianapolis Recorder 3 September 1949 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program" via newspapers.library.in.gov.
  12. Sims, Gayle Ronan (23 March 2008). "Ex-dancer Hortense Allen Jordan dies at 88". Inquirer.
  13. "Permanent Collection". Oakton Community College.
  14. "King Kolax Discography". campber.people.clemson.edu.