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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slick, swinging, yet sadly sexist, March 1, 2003
This review is from: Hi De Ho [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Cab Calloway, leader of one of the most successful hepcat swing ensembles of the Harlem Renaissance, stars as himself in this flimsily plotted showbiz revue. Calloway fans will definitely want to check this film out, although no one should expect much in the way of great drama or filmmaking. It's all just an excuse to show Cab and his band strutting their stuff, which is cool, since he was definitely one of the great showmen of his time. The production quality of the film isn't great, though -- the acting is pretty stiff, and the "scenes" barely exist, hastily stuffed in between the wall-to-wall musical performances (some of which are clumsily dubbed, others which seem to have been filmed live). Also, the plot is a little troublesome -- the story opens with Calloway in an apartment room, bossing around his girlfriend, Minnie (the Moocher, of course) and slapping her down when she back-talks him. Minnie's jealous of Calloway's female business manager, Nettie, a "high-class" bourgeois woman -- and when Cab won't drop the other woman, Minnie goes off as a woman scorned, brewing up trouble for Cab and his pals. The race, class, and gender issues are disturbing from a modern vantage point, but like all the dramatic aspects of this film, have to be taken with a grain of salt. Really it's all about the music... Oh, and the dancing. The last third of this hour-long film features the Cab Calloway nightclub act in full swing, which means some truly amazing tap dancing and leggy chorus girls. Leave the PC issues aside, and this is a great cultural artifact.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent music, bad acting., July 29, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Hi De Ho [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This movie is a must see for anyone who enjoys Cab Calloway and/or his music. Cab's music more than makes up for what is lacking from the actors/actresses. It is in it's original form and is only an hour long, so the music recordings are rather rustic. I highly recommend this film.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The very talented Mr. Cab Calloway., July 4, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Hi De Ho [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a must see film, if you like Cab Calloway's music. The actors and actresses were a little stiff when it came to moving,but maybe they were a little nervous. The scene of the ganster slapping down Minnie was priceless. That poor girl, was always on the floor. Cab's rendition of a bumb, and acting as if he were drunk while dancing and singing St. James infirmery, was a hoot. you would have to see it for yourself, I recommend this film for your classic video collection. P.S, the tap dancing trio were great!!.
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