While I was not originally going to watch this musical short since I usually hate musical shorts, I decided to see it when I saw that it was directed by none other than Buster Keaton!! It was obvious looking at Keaton's career that MGM had absolutely no idea how to use his many talents. Starting in the sound era, MGM did practically everything they could to unintentionally waste his talents. The first was pairing the visual comic with the loud, brash and pretty obnoxious Jimmy Durante. Their styles had absolutely nothing in common and Keaton just looked lost in the films--and worst of all, they weren't funny. It was so bad that by the late 1930s, he all but disappeared from the screen except in bit roles. MGM didn't know what to do with this contracted player, so they assigned him to direct some shorts. And the short, overall, is good and achieves what it intended--a short and amiable musical interlude before or between features. However, fans looking for a short that transcends this limited goal (such as Keaton's silent shorts) will be disappointed.
In addition, the film is in some ways uncomfortable to watch here in the 21st century and is an important history lesson. The singing group in the film is made up of some talented Black men who, at times, act pretty stereotypical for the time period. Blacks were not often seen in mainstream films of the era, but when they did they were usually servants or child-like "boys" who could sing and dance. The singing is excellent and catchy, but you can't help but feel that the film is patronizing and these men are allowed to act within very prescribed limits--the characters can't have depth or anguish--they must enjoy being exactly who they are and nothing more. However, don't throw away the film because of this--it is a very important time-capsule and important to our history.
This film begins with the men working as waiters on a train. They THINK they bought a used train car to convert into a restaurant, but it turns out the owner of the railroad is actually NOT the owner but an insane person! How this is all resolved in kind of cute and at least it's nice to see that in the end the men are rewarded for their decency and hard work--exactly the sort of "good Negro" image that White audiences of the time would accept.
Overall, this is an interesting film but is hindered by the age in which it was made. It's a real shame that the singers were unable to do much more with their many talents.
In addition, the film is in some ways uncomfortable to watch here in the 21st century and is an important history lesson. The singing group in the film is made up of some talented Black men who, at times, act pretty stereotypical for the time period. Blacks were not often seen in mainstream films of the era, but when they did they were usually servants or child-like "boys" who could sing and dance. The singing is excellent and catchy, but you can't help but feel that the film is patronizing and these men are allowed to act within very prescribed limits--the characters can't have depth or anguish--they must enjoy being exactly who they are and nothing more. However, don't throw away the film because of this--it is a very important time-capsule and important to our history.
This film begins with the men working as waiters on a train. They THINK they bought a used train car to convert into a restaurant, but it turns out the owner of the railroad is actually NOT the owner but an insane person! How this is all resolved in kind of cute and at least it's nice to see that in the end the men are rewarded for their decency and hard work--exactly the sort of "good Negro" image that White audiences of the time would accept.
Overall, this is an interesting film but is hindered by the age in which it was made. It's a real shame that the singers were unable to do much more with their many talents.