Black & Tan/St. Louis Blues Movie Review 1929

Two early jazz two-reelers are combined on this tape: "Black and Tan" is the first film appearance of Duke Ellington's Orchestra, featuring Cootie Williams and Johnny Hodges. "St. Louis Blues" is the only surviving film made by legendary blues singer Bessie Smith. She is backed by the Hall Johnson Choir, members of the Fletcher Henderson band directed by James P. Johnson, and dancer Jimmy Mordecai.

Distribution

Critics' Choice Video & DVD, PO Box 749, Itasca, IL 60143, Toll-free: 800-993-6357, Email: vcatalog@ccvideo.com, URL: http://www.ccvideo.com

Available on VHS
Running time 36 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Music--Performance, Music--Jazz

Cast

Duke Ellington, Fredi Washington, Bessie Smith, Hall Johnson

Producer

RKO, Dudley Murphy