Reliving History Through Short Musical Films

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MOVIE REVIEW
Soundies: The Ultimate Collection
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2023 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Runtime: 10h
Director(s): Various
Cast: Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Hoagy Carmichael, Nat King Cole, Dorothy Dandridge, Doris Day, Duke Ellington, Harry “The Hipster” Gibson, Ricardo Montalban, Spike Jones, Vanita Smythe, Gale Storm, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Merle Travis, Fats Waller, and more
Where To Watch: available July 25, 2023; pre-order now here www.kinolorber.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Step into the time machine with me as we visit SOUNDIES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, where the past comes to life in various short musical films similar to what “modern-day” music videos are. This journey, curated by Kino Lorber and curated by Susan Delson, author of “Soundies and the Changing Image of Black Americans on Screen: One Dime at a Time,” unveils the charisma of the World War II era and its immediate aftermath, presented across this incredible four-disc set. While the quality of the shorts varies for different reasons, some of them are genuinely remarkable, looking like they were just shot yesterday.

At its core, SOUNDIES were pioneers. Dating back to the 1940s, they opened a gateway for the public to immerse themselves in various musical genres. Thanks to the ingenuity of the Mills Novelty Company, these 'movie jukeboxes,' known as Panoram’s, encapsulated an era. They skirted the societal norms of the time, adding a nuanced commentary on race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

Creating these audiovisual delights took a lot of work. Initially shot on 35mm film, these capsules of history were then transposed onto the more practical 16mm reels. The recording process was ahead of its time too. Performers recorded the soundtrack first, lip-syncing while filming. Thanks to Panoram's unique mirror arrangement, the films were played in reverse, creating a distinctive aesthetic with the titles appearing backward. For the modest price of a dime, patrons could embrace the suspense of what would play next, as the song selection was left up to chance.

The range of talent displayed in SOUNDIES is an impressive parade of iconic figures and emerging stars of the day. It's where big-band era luminaries like Duke Ellington and Count Basie met rising talents like Doris Day and Ricardo Montalban. Meanwhile, hidden gems from the nightclub circuit shared the limelight with future luminaries such as Gale Storm, Dorothy Dandridge, and Liberace. It was a dynamic platform, inviting a broad spectrum of genres from swing to classical and patriotic songs.

Creating these musical films was a nationwide project, a collaboration between production houses scattered across the country. SOUNDIES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION is a carefully crafted homage to this influential slice of cultural history, presenting 200 short films spanning various genres. This fantastic set offers a unique chance to revisit an essential yet often overlooked chapter of American popular culture with insightful on-screen introductions, a booklet with essays, photographs, and much more.

Kino Lorber's SOUNDIES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION revives these historical gems, propelling us on an exhilarating expedition through the kaleidoscope of American popular culture. So, buckle up and set your coordinates for an unforgettable ride down memory lane, one short film at a time!

PRODUCT EXTRAS:
– Illustrated 44-page booklet with essays by Susan Delson, Ellen C. Scott, and Mark Cantor
– Filmed introductions by series curator Susan Delson, with Ina Archer, Media Conservationist, National Museum of African American History and Culture
– “Inside the Panoram,” a filmed interview with Mark Cantor, author of The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s
– “From the Vaults,” a filmed interview with Matt Barton (Curator of Recording Sound at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center at the Library of Congress) and Mike Mashon (Head of the Moving Image Section of the Library of Congress)

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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