Reet, Petite, and Gone

Another musical "race picture", this time from Astor Pictures and director William Forest Crouch. Louis Jordan stars as Louis Jarvis, a singer, saxophone player, and bandleader, much like Louis Jordan. The silly plot concerns the death of Jarvis' father, and the stipulation in his will that Jarvis marry a girl of certain physical measurements if he wishes to inherit his father's fortune. The father's shady attorney (Lorenzo Tucker) has altered the will, however, in order to trick Jarvis into marrying his secretary, who will then take all the money and run away with the attorney. Featuring June Richmond, Milton Woods, Bea Griffith, David Bethea, and Vanita Smythe.

The plot is ludicrous and beside the point. The draw here is seeing Jordan and his Tympany Five perform several songs, along with various guest singers like June Richmond and Pat Rainey. Jordan is considered the father of R&B, and the through-line from big band swing and jazz to rock and roll is evident in his quick tempo songs, often with slang-filled lyrics, such as the title track. Jordan was an early inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and this film is a good visual record of his talents.