Freddie Rich and His Orchestra

Freddie Rich & His Orchestra (1938)

*** (out of 4)

This group probably isn't remembered by many today but those who see this short will certainly enjoy it. Freddie Rich does a terrific job with his band doing a handful of numbers and all of them will have you feet twitching with entertainment. The highlight of the short is probably 'You're an Education', which features Freddie Rich and his group doing the music while The Three Symphonettes do the singing. The song is up-tempo and the voices and music go so well together that it's nearly impossible not to get moving to it. Another good number is 'Chinatown My Chinatown' which seemed to be a popular number for these Warner/Vitaphone shorts as I've caught it used in a few other shorts. If you a fan of these Big Band groups then you should enjoy this one. Rich is quite energetic and he certainly knows how to play up to the camera as I'm sure many women were quite happy to see him on a large screen. The rest still have some great music to enjoy.

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.

I was recently very fortunate to run across this Big Band short while watching TCM channel. My first reaction was that it was a nice little film featuring the Freddie Rich Orchestra, Joe Sodja - outstanding guitarist, but particularly a catchy version of the "Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond" featuring Nan Wynn with The Three Symphonettes. Luckily, having a recorder in operation, I was able to go back and again listen to Nan Wynn (which I have now done over and over). What an amazingly beautiful voice!!! Her clarity, range and effortless singing just totally mesmerized me, along with the fact that she was a beautiful young lady. What a shame that her talent wasn't more recognized and more of her work isn't available. I am now trying to catch her in some of the movies in which she appeared, usually as a nightclub singer, but I'm thankful to at least have this video.

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.

An unusually good Big Band short that gets a couple of extra points for Joe Sodja's fantastic guitar -- a solid 10 in my book.

Nan Wynn is adequate as a Big Band girl vocalist, and the Three Symphonettes are what we used to call sol-LID! -- entertaining and with the precision of a block of polished steel. {There was a good deal of that around in those prehistoric days of my high school time.)

A very entertaining entry in the galaxy of '30s and '40s musical shorts.