Freddie Rich and His Orchestra

This is a short from Vitaphone and it can be found on the "Warner Brothers Big Band, Jazz & Swing" DVD collection. This set consists of six DVDs and almost 11 hours of shorts! "Freddie Rich and His Orchestra" is a very typical sort of short. It consists of Freddie Rich and his band playing a few tunes. And apart from a guitarist wanting to do a number, it's all VERY conventional. It's simply music and no story or hook to excite the viewer. And, I know opinions will differ, but I found this music amazingly dull and uneventful. Now I must admit that I am not a huge fan of big band, but even for this sort the film is pretty limp. The short lacks humor and especially energy. As a result, it's a below average film compared the most of the rest of the set.

I enjoyed all the musical numbers in this short subject (that was included on "The Adventures Of Robin Hood" DVD -- an Errol Flynn swashbuckler). The first number with the Three Symphonettes (female trio) was fun. I particularly liked the girl in the middle: she had the cutest facial expressions while she was singing. Then there was a band performance. Then Nan Wynn, the featured vocalist, came out to perform. Before this viewing, I had never heard or heard of Nan Wynn. She was adorable. She had a lovely voice, her vocal stylings were attractive, and (like that one Symphonette in the middle) she flirted coyly with the camera. (Oh, to return to the good old days of flirting, before we started baring it all.) Miss Wynn was about 23 when this short film was made in 1938. Unfortunately, although she was in a few movies, she never reached the heights of fame I think she deserved. She is perhaps best known today as the singing voice of Rita Hayworth in "You Were Never Lovelier" (1942). But you can see her in "Pardon My Sarong" (1942) as Luana, which is available on VHS video tape. Sadly, Miss Wynn died at the age of 55 from cancer.

I love these big band short subjects from the '30s and '40s. This one features FREDDIE RICH AND HIS ORCHESTRA.

I can't say the songs themselves are anything memorable, but Rich gives various members of his band time to shine with their individual instruments.

He also gives a trio of girl singers plenty of time to warble a popular tune with NAN WYNN joining in for a pleasant rendition of "Loch Lomond." The band numbers end with a guitarist joining the group to show his finesse with finger work on the guitar and the short subject is over.

Nothing special, but pleasant while it lasts.

This is a good musical short that I caught just in time and recorded from Turner Classic Movies. This great Big Band short is rarely seen, but when seen you'll watch it over and over. 10 mins long but its very full. Great Band, Great Female Singers. Nan Wynn is what you call a Big Band Singer, she got that sweet, clear voice, and The Three Symphonettes are one of the many great girl singers of the time. This is music wihtout the nudity and cursing, that tells what love is really all about. If you can catch this short, your lucky.

This is a great swing jazz short featuring the Freddie Rich Orchestra. The main highlight is the lovely Nan Wynn and the Three Symphonettes singing "The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond" (WOW!! Nan Wynne makes me wonder how anybody could love today's singers — her voice is so pure, so sweet) Watching the expressions on her face while she's singing is mesmerizing. The short is capped off by amazing guitar fretwork by Joe Sodja on "Chinatown, My Chinatown." His playing is similar to Les Paul, and he's absolutely smokin'! The guitarwork is extremely fast and equally impressive. There are also nice cutaway shots of Freddie Rich's band members. This short is one I truly wish I had recorded in some format — I'd love to see it again.