Harlem Revue (1932)
1932 · Ephemeral film · 9 min
- Documentary
- Comedy
- Music
Synopsis
Bill Powers, who covers William H. Gardner's "Can't Yo Heah Me Callin'," has a nice baritone and chooses to go easy on the dialect-heavy stuff (as much as one can; the song was a hit in 1914, an era of not just common but GLEEFULLY common dialect songs). The Brown Sisters do "Underneath the Harlem Moon," which is of later vintage (1932) and solidly in the hi-de-ho tradition.
Synopsis from OMDb
Details
- Released
- 1932-05-22
- Running time
- 9 minutes
Cast & crew
- Bill Powers
- Zazzy
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★ · A full gamut of images of black America · K.P. Lee · 2003-09-01
This short, by Feeber Film Corp., presents a whole slew of images of black America. The initial comic skit, which occupies approximately the first minute of "Harlem Review," presents stereotypes that today would be considered quite offensive (there is an unfunny joke about the African navy). The decor on the stage set is an alarming panoply of minstrel-show imagery. This stage set shows up in the succeeding dance number. The latter part of "Harlem Review" presents Bill Powers, who appears to have a classically-trained voice; and the Brown Sisters, who are also quite accomplished performers.…
★★ · CAAAAAA-ROOOOO-LIIIIINE! · Spuzz · 2003-09-23
Pretty bad 'Harlem Review' of singers you've never heard before... I'm sorry, make that an "All Star Cast of Radio Performers!". Featuring 1st, an awful "comedy skit" featuring racial stereotypes pretty much reserved for a minstrel show. Next we have an okay instrumental review, like the panning up shot. But, it sounds like they're in am echo chamber. Then we have 'Introducing Bill Powers' (He's an all star radio performer?') and he sings, my god, the worst awful song imaginable 'Caroline' which assaults the ear drums badly. Finally, "And now, The Brown Sisters!" Who ARE these people? They…
★★ · Democracies and the recording of history · Richard Pascoe · 2013-03-19
This film is a great example of why history must be preserved without censorship. It allows modern audiences a window into the past. Regardless of how offensive something may seem ("Boom Bye Bye" by Buju Banton comes to mind for a sense of balance) it must be preserved and made available. A fundamental of democracy I imagine. The songs and music are average but the singers do a great job in what seems to be a cupboard studio.
