DbcultAccessing Vault...
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Cab Calloway's Hi-De-Ho remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have ten minutes and need a jolt of energy, sure. It’s for jazz fans and people who like their movies fast and messy. If you need a coherent story, look elsewhere. You'll probably hate this if you get annoyed by plots that feel like they were scribbled on a napkin five minutes before filming started.
There is this weirdly frantic energy here. Like everyone involved was told they had to finish before the lunch bell rang. The whole marital infidelity angle is just a flimsy clothesline to hang musical numbers on.
Cab Calloway is clearly the only reason this thing exists. When he’s on screen, the camera finally stops fidgeting and just lets him work. That rhythm is infectious. It’s a million times more watchable than that slog Sweepings, which just drags on forever.
The acting is… well, it’s theatrical. Lots of big eyes and over-the-top reactions. It reminded me of the frantic energy in Laughing Gas, though at least here there’s a trumpet involved. 🎷
There is a moment where the dialogue just drops away. The music takes over and the movie finally breathes. It makes you wish they hadn't bothered with the script at all.
Why are they always shouting their lines? Maybe the microphones were just terrible back then. It gives the whole thing this bizarre, hyper-active feeling that I can’t decide if I love or hate.
It’s not trying to be a deep cinematic statement. It’s a short film. It knows what it is, even if it trips over its own feet trying to tell a story between the songs. Sometimes, the music is enough. This isn't exactly Father and Son in terms of emotional weight, but it isn't trying to be. It's just a quick hit of jazz and chaos. 🎺