Rhythm in a Riff is a 1947 medium length

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

produced by William D. Alexander and directed by

Leonard Anderson Leonard Anderson was an American film editor and film director, and he co-owned a film production company. Anderson's short films of African-American musical acts include footage of Anna Mae Winburn with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Lu ...

. The film stars

Billy Eckstine William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously ...

and his band performing as well as

Ann Baker Anna Rose Baker (July 23, 1930 – March 2, 2017) was an American actress, known for her appearance in classic films and television shows during the 1950s. Early years Born Anna Rose Baker, Baker was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Baker, ...

, Hortense Allen Jordan, Sarah Harris, and Emmett "Babe" Wallace. The film is extant. The film was.made in New York City. It was released by Astor Pictures. The film was targeted to am African American audience, features and African American cast, and was produced and directed by African Americans. The film is also known as ''Flicker Up''. The film features various songs performed by Eckstine, who served as the film's hero. who sings, conducts, and performs solo in the film. Several soundies were made from excerpts of the film. "Lonesome Lover Blues" is one of the songs Eckstine performs in the film. A September 1949 review in the '' Indianapolis Recorder'' described the film as "jampacked full of music, pep, and vitality" and praised Eckstine's acting performance as a bandleader in search of a gig. Hortense Allen dances in the film. She was shown footage of her performance in the film 50 years after it was made. The dancer, choreographer, costume designer, and producer said it was the first time she ever saw herself dance. Oakton Community College has a poster for the film. The film was rereleased on video in 1993 along with some footage of Dizzy Gillespie under the title Dizzy Gillespie/Billy Eckstine: Things To Come (Vintage Jazz Classics Video VJC-2006). Clips from the film were used in the 2004 Storyville Films release ''The Black Big Bands''

Cast

and his band * Emmett "Babe" Wallace *Sarah Harris *Garfield Love *Ray Moore *

, singing "I Cried for You" *Hortense Allen dancing

References

External links

* 1947 films 1947 musical films American musical films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films English-language musical films {{musical-film-stub