I hope you joined big band fans everywhere, including yours truly, in watching "Big Bands in the Movies" on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Wednesday nights in July. What an incredible selection of big band films!
Personally, I enjoyed them all, even a couple that weren't so hot, like "The Gene Krupa Story" with Sal Mineo terribly miscast as the legendary drummer. Even the Krupa story had a few good moments, especially the end. No, I'm not being sarcastic. The last number showed Tommy Dorsey's orchestra with both its regular drummer, played by Shelly Manne, and Gene Krupa, played by Mineo, both playing with the band. Mineo went through his wimpy moves, but Shelly Manne -- what a drummer!
There is one scene in "The Benny Goodman Story" I always enjoy seeing -- when the band plays "Sing, Sing, Sing" in Carnegie Hall on January 16, 1938. This is an electrifying moment in big band history, and the movie captures it beautifully.
Let's listen to Benny talk about it:
Incredible!
George Spink
The Flatted Fifth
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