Sweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy-drama mockumentary written and directed by Woody Allen. Loosely based on Federico Fellini's film La Strada, the film tells the story of jazz guitarist Emmet Ray who falls in love with mute laundress Hattie. Like several of Allen's other films, the film is occasionally interrupted by interviews with critics and biographers like Allen, Nat Hentoff, Daniel Okrent, and Douglas McGrath, who comment on the film's plot as if the characters were real-life people.
Harry Rubenstein, known professionally as Harry Ruby, was an American pianist, composer, songwriter and screenwriter, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. He was married to silent film actress Eileen Percy.
Reveille with Beverly is a 1943 American musical film starring Ann Miller, Franklin Pangborn, and Larry Parks directed by Charles Barton, released by Columbia Pictures, based on the Reveille with Beverly radio show hosted by Jean Ruth. It is also the name of the subsequent soundtrack album.
Benjamin Baruch Ambrose, known professionally as Ambrose, was an English bandleader and violinist. Ambrose became the leader of a highly acclaimed British dance band, Ambrose & His Orchestra, in the 1930s.
Ronald Macdonald Hutchison, professionally known as Harry Tate, was an English comedian, who performed in the music halls, in variety shows, and in films.
Evelyn Dall was an American singer and actress.
British dance band is a genre of popular jazz and dance music that developed in British dance halls and hotel ballrooms during the 1920s and 1930s, often called a Golden Age of British music, prior to the Second World War.
Two Girls and a Sailor is a 1944 American musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Van Johnson, June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven. Set on the American homefront during World War II, it's about two singing sisters who create a lavish canteen to entertain members of the military, thanks to financial contributions from a mysterious donor. The picture features a host of celebrity performances, including Jimmy Durante doing his hallmark "Inka Dinka Doo", Gracie Allen, and Lena Horne. Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Elisabeth Margaret Welch was an American singer, actress, and entertainer, whose career spanned seven decades. Her best-known songs were "Stormy Weather", "Love for Sale" and "Far Away in Shanty Town". She was American-born, but was based in Britain for most of her career.
Calling All Stars is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Arthur Askey, Evelyn Dall and Max Bacon. The film is a revue, featuring a number of musical acts playing themselves. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios for release as a quota quickie. The film's art direction is by Norman G. Arnold.
Max David Bacon was a British actor, comedian and musician. Although he was British-born, his comedic style centred on his pseudo-European, Yiddish accent and in his straight-faced mispronunciation of words.
Kicking the Moon Around is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Bert Ambrose, Evelyn Dall and Harry Richman. The film marked Maureen O'Hara's screen debut; she appeared very briefly, speaking one line.
This is a summary of 1938 in music in the United Kingdom.
Peter Ashley Greenwell was an English composer and pianist best known as an accompanist to Noël Coward. He wrote the music for the songs of The Crooked Mile (1959) and other musicals and plays, and also composed scores for British comedy films such as The Virgin Soldiers (1969), Our Miss Fred (1972), Up the Front (1972) and Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1973).
Sunshine Ahead is a 1936 British musical comedy film directed by Wallace Orton and starring Eddie Pola, Betty Astell and Leslie Perrins. It was made at Cricklewood Studios as a quota quickie for release by Universal Pictures.
Music Hall is a 1934 British musical drama film directed by John Baxter and starring George Carney, Ben Field and Mark Daly. It was made at Twickenham Studios as a quota quickie.
Variety Parade is a 1936 British musical revue film directed by Oswald Mitchell. It was shot at Cricklewood Studios.
Sing as You Swing is a 1937 British musical film directed by Redd Davis and starring Charles Clapham, Bill Dwyer and Claude Dampier. It was made as a quota quickie and features turns from a variety of radio and revue stars with little background narrative.
Variety Hour is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Charles Clapham and Bill Dwyer. It is a revue show featuring a number of performers from radio and music hall.
Say It with Music is a 1932 British musical drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Jack Payne, Percy Marmont and Evelyn Roberts. It was produced by Herbert Wilcox's British and Dominions Films at Elstree Studios. It takes its title from the 1921 song Say It with Music by Irving Berlin which features in the soundtrack, and was an early example of a string of bandleader-centric films produced by British studios during the decade. It is also notable for providing an early acting role for the then-24-year-old William Hartnell, who decades later would go on to portray the First Doctor on Doctor Who.
