I happened to spot an old black and white musical on one of the cable movie channels the other day, and it got me to thinking about how sometimes situations change but the basics don't. Modern movie-goers are accustomed to hearing music in their films, either in the background or featuring a currently hot musician right up on the screen, but music was extensively used in movies back in the thirties and forties too, in the very same way — as background or sometimes as an integral part of the film. It might have been a drama like Laura, that kept hammering home the haunting theme song, or even a picture based on the life of a famous composer or musician — for example Night And Day, starring Cary Grant as a sanitized Cole Porter.
But there was another type of movie music in existence at that time, and it all comes back to the basics of promoting music. Current music stars have lots of avenues to show themselves off, but the earlier performers were more limited, and about the only way the swing bands and vocalists could let their fans in middle
America see them perform was in the movies.
Remember, teenagers not only didn't have access to music videos (or video of any kind!) but many were living in small towns or rural areas that didn't have a lot in the way of live entertainment. There were plenty of touring bands, but the good ones - whose records the kids bought - spent most of their time in medium to large cities. Their ideal gig was a semi-permanent engagement at a ballroom or large hotel, and even if they toured they weren't likely to show up in East Pitchfork.
That's where the movies helped out by showcasing the bands and convincing fans to go out and buy records and put nickels in jukeboxes. Usually the bands were inserted into a film with a thinly-written plot that had some secondary characters going through a little romance and comedy, but mostly those types of movies were just a way to popularize the bands.
Article comments
1 - George Spink
Hi, Big Geez,
I share your enthusiasm for Glenn Miller's two films. If fact, you might enjoy how the soundtrack of Sun Valley Serenade sounds on my podcast blog, The Palomar.
To hear it, first click the Stop button on the XSPF Player near the bottom of the page and then click the Play button at the bottom of the "Sun Valley Serenade at the Biograph" entry.
By the way, note that some of these songs are in stereo. Yes, stereo! Back in 1941!
You might also enjoy my main big band web site, Tuxedo Junction.
Cordially,
George Spink
2 - Big Geez
Thanks, George. I have visited your website Tuxedo Junction in the past, but didn't know about your other. Will check it out.
3 - Donna
I recently started listening to big band music, including the music of Russ Carlyle. The big band music is definitely an interesting ear and one we should not forget.