Music, Music Everywhere: A strange little musical relic

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are deep into 1930s big band history. If you need a story or even a hint of character development, look elsewhere. People who love modern pacing will probably fall asleep within the first five minutes.

It’s not really a "movie" in the way we usually mean that. It feels more like a collection of performances held together by scotch tape and enthusiasm. 🎷

The whole thing is built around Clyde Lucas and his orchestra. They play, and the camera cuts to some scenery. Then they play something else, and we see more scenery. It’s repetitive, but there’s a certain charm to how simple it is.

The rhythm of it

Sometimes the cuts between the music and the landscapes are so jarring they almost become funny. One minute you’re listening to a brass section, the next you’re looking at a tree. It’s a bold choice, I guess.

It reminds me a bit of the disjointed energy you find in something like Ghost of the Rancho, though with significantly more trumpets. It lacks the weird tension of Riding with Death, but it shares that same feeling of being a production that just wanted to get the job done and go home.

There is this one shot of the orchestra that goes on for way longer than it needs to. You can see the guys in the back row looking a bit bored. It’s a very human moment in a film that’s otherwise pretty stiff.

• The music is actually decent if you like that era.
• The editing feels like it was done with a pair of rusty scissors.
• I’m still not sure what the "scenic shots" were trying to tell us.

It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just trying to exist. Sometimes that’s enough, but for a whole runtime? Maybe not. It’s a strange little artifact. If you like digging through old archives, you might find it interesting. Otherwise, it’s mostly just background noise for when you’re doing chores.