I've always been a big Cab Calloway fan, so naturally I had to go see this short. I was not disappointed. We get plenty of vocals from Mister Hi-De-Ho himself, and we even get to see the band featured on "Some of These Days". The plot is a bit hokey, but then again, who cares? It's not about the plot, it's about the music, and the music is terrific! We get to hear Cab's vocal hysterics on "I've Got a Right to Sing" the blues and "Frisco Flo". We also get to hear "Hi De Ho Miracle Man", which is one of the many songs written to capitalize on the success of "Minnie the Moocher" and its call-and-response section. All in all, it's immensely enjoyable and immensely entertaining.
9 Reviews
He's Got A Right To Sing the Blues
boblipton23 August 2019
It's another of the Vitaphone musical shorts, but this one is about Cab Calloway. He starts out "conducting" a radio orchestra, and singing "I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues" while folks walk by the open window.
People nowadays mostly know Calloway from his appearance in THE BLUES BROTHERS, where he is obviously an idolized figure, but it's hard to realize what a major in popular music in the1930s. With his big performances and early work in scat singing, he was very popular in night clubs and in musical shorts, including a couple of the best Fleischer Screen Songs.
Other songs he performs in this short are "I'm the Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man", "Frisco Flo" and "Some of These Days."
People nowadays mostly know Calloway from his appearance in THE BLUES BROTHERS, where he is obviously an idolized figure, but it's hard to realize what a major in popular music in the1930s. With his big performances and early work in scat singing, he was very popular in night clubs and in musical shorts, including a couple of the best Fleischer Screen Songs.
Other songs he performs in this short are "I'm the Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man", "Frisco Flo" and "Some of These Days."
"A man with a future like yours, ain't got no right to sing the blues!"
classicsoncall14 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It appears some of the reviewers here are commenting on Cab Calloway's 1947 picture titled "Hi De Ho". This 1937 film short has an eleven minute run time and tells a quick story in which Cab tells his Ma that 'he's going places someday'. Listening in through an open window, a neighborhood minister points Cab in the direction of a tea reading fortune teller who offers him up three different scenarios in which his career might take him.
The first one delves into Calloway's prospective future as a 'Hi De Ho' musical man; the second more ominous one shows what might happen if he stays stuck in the 'status quo', namely 'Latin for a big mess'! The third reading shows Cab leading a Big Band at a dizzying pace, building on the possibility offered in the first sequence.
This was my very first look at the high energy performer and I was not disappointed. His jazz style is highly infectious and that booming voice of his will knock you out of your chair if you're not ready for it. Based on this viewing, I'll be keeping my eye out for more on Cab Calloway.
The first one delves into Calloway's prospective future as a 'Hi De Ho' musical man; the second more ominous one shows what might happen if he stays stuck in the 'status quo', namely 'Latin for a big mess'! The third reading shows Cab leading a Big Band at a dizzying pace, building on the possibility offered in the first sequence.
This was my very first look at the high energy performer and I was not disappointed. His jazz style is highly infectious and that booming voice of his will knock you out of your chair if you're not ready for it. Based on this viewing, I'll be keeping my eye out for more on Cab Calloway.
Very good but I had hoped it was the film with "Minnie the Moocher".
planktonrules27 August 2011
I enjoyed this Vitaphone short, though I was disappointed it did not include Cab Calloway's signature song "Minnie the Moocher". This isn't a criticism--he did more songs than just this one and he'd already sung it in a Fleischer Brothers short five years earlier.
The film opens with Cab at home--pretending to direct a band as the radio played and he waved his baton over little dolls. Soon, he goes to see the Deacon's wife because she can tell the future. And, looking at tea leaves, she tells him he will indeed be a band leader. At this point, the film dissolves to a few musical numbers. The most interesting of which is "The Hi De Ho Man".
All in all, a nice little short AND a nice historical film as it records a very important act of the Harlem Renaissance. Well worth seeing.
The film opens with Cab at home--pretending to direct a band as the radio played and he waved his baton over little dolls. Soon, he goes to see the Deacon's wife because she can tell the future. And, looking at tea leaves, she tells him he will indeed be a band leader. At this point, the film dissolves to a few musical numbers. The most interesting of which is "The Hi De Ho Man".
All in all, a nice little short AND a nice historical film as it records a very important act of the Harlem Renaissance. Well worth seeing.
Mr Hi De Ho's problem.
Spuzzlightyear30 April 2006
Pretty grand showcase for Mr. Hi DE Ho himself, Cab Calloway. While I LOVE Cab Calloway, I'm really surprised they cast him in a role that is so DARK, he regularly beats up his girlfriend, plays seedy clubs, and soon, has hits on his life set up by his vengeful girlfriend! Fortunately, his professional life is on the upswing, with his agent getting him out of seedy clubs and into the bigtime. Soon, after the hit on his life fails, (and his nasty girl is out of the way) his agent takes over and soon Cab is the hit of the world! Wait! That's not the end of the movie! Then there's almost a mini-concert with Cab and pals shaking the joint all over! Cab does a good job acting here (but needs lip synching lessons (but then again, I can imagine ANYONE, Cab included of trying to keep up with one!) and Jeni Le Gon, well, I'll say it now, I live close to her, she's still alive, she's around 82 years of age, a real wonder. So it was a treat to see her so young in her career. I can hardly wait to run into her again to ask her about it!
Getting Good And Low Down
bkoganbing6 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Cab Calloway was one of those unique entertainers, none ever like him before or since. Back in the day he never got into racial stereotyping in the film appearances he made. This short film gives us a unique opportunity to see his artistry and also the fact that he did other songs besides Minnie The Moocher.
The short shows a young Cab with music in his head, leading an imaginary orchestra while at home. This was the Thirties when a lot of people were unemployed. It was twice as tough if you were black so many could identify with him.
I'm not sure of the theological implications of the fact that a deacon in a black church tells him to go to his wife who reads tea leaves. That comes under witchcraft which the Good Book says is forbidden. Nevertheless in the tea leaves a great future is promised for him.
A great and long future, he performed almost up to his demise for over 70 years. No one ever got good and low down the way Cab Calloway did.
The short shows a young Cab with music in his head, leading an imaginary orchestra while at home. This was the Thirties when a lot of people were unemployed. It was twice as tough if you were black so many could identify with him.
I'm not sure of the theological implications of the fact that a deacon in a black church tells him to go to his wife who reads tea leaves. That comes under witchcraft which the Good Book says is forbidden. Nevertheless in the tea leaves a great future is promised for him.
A great and long future, he performed almost up to his demise for over 70 years. No one ever got good and low down the way Cab Calloway did.
Fluid
tedg18 December 2006
I suppose there's something to this business of role models, even for a lucid mind. Its a matter of appreciation, and I think you can tell a lot about yourself and who you love by tracing the list of who they admire.
If you were to come up with a short list of the most genuine American artists, who would be on it? These have to be artists who were real artists in the sense that they invent and that their invention became part of what it means to be American. To rank high, you'd need to be involved in music, probably jazz, movies in some basic way, and establish how many folks carry themselves.
Elvis? Don't make me laugh.
On my short list would be Cab Calloway. He's absolutely amazing to watch. If you take Hip Hop culture and trace it back to its origins, you'll find less emergence from the street than you expect and one huge river coming from this man. Before Ellington, Basie, Charles, Armstrong, Waller, and the jazz greats of the 60s, it was Cab who defined what it meant to be cool in Harlem. And since he anchored the Cotton Club, that was for whites as well as blacks.
This movie was made after that era, and some of the energy of the live performances is fading. Its an odd thing, with Cab shoehorned into a "race" movie. In this peculiar form, all the roles are played by African Americans: every cop, waitress and shopper. Its a bit like having every character be a duck, extremely surreal even for the time.
Unlike the "Amos and Andy" TeeVee show which had superb actors, these are all laughably amateur. The plot involves Cab, a night club and a gangster boss and is the thinnest it can be in order to allow Cab and associated performers to give a show.
One really interesting writing device. In every scene except the shooting, there is an old black man sitting reading a copy of Variety. This is even true when we see Cab in his own home, drunk and beating his girlfriend. Who is he? We never know who or why.
He's just there, as a sort of black surrogate for us as watchers at a table in the club. Its a brilliant piece of stagecraft to come up with this.
Before this, in his prime, he was rotoscoped into some really great Betty Boop cartoons, one of which you really must see before you die. Its that good.
Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
If you were to come up with a short list of the most genuine American artists, who would be on it? These have to be artists who were real artists in the sense that they invent and that their invention became part of what it means to be American. To rank high, you'd need to be involved in music, probably jazz, movies in some basic way, and establish how many folks carry themselves.
Elvis? Don't make me laugh.
On my short list would be Cab Calloway. He's absolutely amazing to watch. If you take Hip Hop culture and trace it back to its origins, you'll find less emergence from the street than you expect and one huge river coming from this man. Before Ellington, Basie, Charles, Armstrong, Waller, and the jazz greats of the 60s, it was Cab who defined what it meant to be cool in Harlem. And since he anchored the Cotton Club, that was for whites as well as blacks.
This movie was made after that era, and some of the energy of the live performances is fading. Its an odd thing, with Cab shoehorned into a "race" movie. In this peculiar form, all the roles are played by African Americans: every cop, waitress and shopper. Its a bit like having every character be a duck, extremely surreal even for the time.
Unlike the "Amos and Andy" TeeVee show which had superb actors, these are all laughably amateur. The plot involves Cab, a night club and a gangster boss and is the thinnest it can be in order to allow Cab and associated performers to give a show.
One really interesting writing device. In every scene except the shooting, there is an old black man sitting reading a copy of Variety. This is even true when we see Cab in his own home, drunk and beating his girlfriend. Who is he? We never know who or why.
He's just there, as a sort of black surrogate for us as watchers at a table in the club. Its a brilliant piece of stagecraft to come up with this.
Before this, in his prime, he was rotoscoped into some really great Betty Boop cartoons, one of which you really must see before you die. Its that good.
Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
Of Historical Interest
ac9476 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Cab was decades (if not centuries) ahead of his time, a true American original. Foregoing a lucrative law career in order to become a hep entertainer. Shades here of both William and Lord Buckleys. Of historical note is the use of a small down sized band for two of the numbers, ostensibly for an "audition". One of them is proto R&B. This is relevant to the development of R&B, which required a move from the big band format to a smaller group type. Louis Jordan is normally credited with that transition for economic reasons, but his recordings didn't start until after 1938. This movie is not totally devoid of film elements, although the acting and plot are rather forgettable. Minnie the moocher could be more aptly titled Minnie the Trooper for taking a bullet for Cab in the film. The rise-to-fame montage is somewhat similar to the rise-to-fame montage is Elvis' Loving you. Also of interest is the marriage "rap" scene.
" 'Love thy neighbor' . . . "
oscaralbert15 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
" . . . was her favorite song," Cotton Club Band Leader Cab Calloway sings of the Notorious Nympho "Frisco Flo" in one of the four songs covered during this 11-minute live-action short, HI DE HO. This "Vitaphone Melody Master" is a product of the 1900s, a time of relative Racial Harmony in America, compared to 2016. Not once during HI DE HO does Mr. Calloway ignore police commands to drop a weapon, disrespect the U.S. Flag and National Anthem, or perpetrate a crime against European Americans. How many times have YOU seen 21st Century Film Footage featuring U.S. Blacks WITHOUT seeing at least one of this Unholy Trio of Bad Behavior, if not the entire Trinity? As the jury deliberates Charleston Church Shooter Dylan Roof's Fate right this minute, it's important to note that no evidence was introduced showing that Mr. Roof EVER saw HI DE HO. I doubt that KKK chief David Duke or Rump's AltRight Puppetmaster Steve Bannon have ever seen HI DE HO, either. Just as A CLOCKWORK ORANGE documented the success of compulsory viewing of HI DE HO-type fare by English Youth a few years back, I'd argue that EVERY U.S. kid MUST be shown HI DE HO in order to nip the next Dylan Roof in the bud! Please Tweet Education Secretary Betsy DeVos this idea as well, because the squeaky wheel gets greased!
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