Makers of Melody

This lovely 1929 Paramount short features much loved song creators Lorenz and Hart being interviewed as an excuse to showcase some early talkie talent spotlighting their great songs. One in particular is THE GIRLFRIEND which leaps into a very snazzy and up to date late 20s college scene with very modern 20s fashions (mini skirts and bell bottom flared pants!!) and some energetic collegiate humor. The tune of course is the same as heard later in the 50s in the Sandy Wilson Musical farce THE BOYFRIEND in which Julie Andrews broke the Broadway box office and Twiggy in 1970 starred in Ken Russell's hilarious and touching 20s pastiche spectacular. This short named MAKERS OF MELODY is part of a set from KINO entertainment called PARAMOUNT SHORTS: Hollywood RHYTHM and is in part 3: JAZZ COCKTAILS. It is one of 4 tapes (dvds soon?) in the one box set. However, in this Jazz section MAKERS OF MELODY with THE GIRLFRIEND scene is a lot of 20s flapper fun and offers a satisfying appreciation of Rogers and Hart themselves, but especially this delicious college piece for it's youth and fashion. It makes one realize the Sandy Wilson was not stretching himself too much in his 1954 satire when it was actually done for him already in 1929. This whole set of 4 tapes is extraordinary and offers early talkie musical fans a real 20s 30s Paramount smörgåsbord unlike any from that studio I have ever seen before.