I saw most of the Astaire-Rogers films on the big screen at arthouse theaters when we still had those back in the 1970s-1990s, when those films were still considered must-see works for serious film fans and students. Don't let these greats fade into obscurity. Thanks for discussing them, Polyphonic.
Fun fact: Hewlett-Packard had their first success when Disney hired them (when they were two guys called Packard and Hewlett in a garage in California) to build sound controllers for synching the music for Fantasia in travelling shows.
You make great videos, and I’m looking forward to the rest of this series. However, as a huge Ginger Rogers fan, I have to point out that the actress at 0:57 is actually Una Merkel, who also appeared in 42nd Street.
Another HUGE Rogers fan here. Was just watching 42nd Street again last night... I could watch a whole movie about the two friends played by Rogers & Merkel - they consistently supply the funniest moments in the film. I love when Ginger appears at the beginning putting on that phony posh British accent... (sighs) _"Oh, dear..."_ 😂🥰
I think it's safe to say that Fred Astaire's scene in Royal Wedding where he danced on the ceiling would've inspired Lionel Richie's music video for "Dancing on the Ceiling." I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in this video.
Breakin 2 Electric Boogaloo also had Turbo dancing on the ceiling! I remember Entertainment Tonight doing a piece on that scene's choreography and comparing it to Royal Wedding.
Old hollywood and music are two of my favorite things 😊😊 glad that Polyphonic talked about old hollywood and it's connection to the music video it's crazy when you think about it. Movie musicals were huge in the golden age of Hollywood and Fred Astaire, Busby Berkeley and later Gene Kelly were true innovators of that genre of film
For the reference of all, though silent movies were silent and even then, those films got various musical accompaniment and still are to date, the sing-a-long with a bouncing ball often over printed lyrics at the bottom of the screen were a big deal then and as a precursor to Music Video, Mary Pickford's LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925) has this and is a whole film built around that song. The song (which I also like) was so popular, it remained a favorite for decades ands that film did not hurt that one bit. Thank you for another excellent video!
Having this drop and a new Sungazer record on the same day does make me think how awesome a Polyphonic-directed Sungazer music video would be. I feel like the style would really fit. Nebula super-collab please!
Admittedly I was never exactly an Elvis fan. I remember hearing how his lower half was too controversial to be shown to the youth. Looking at it now, it seems extremely tame. Then I remember white guys I know being baffled when learning to dance in any way that involved their hips. Maybe it was just jealousy?
The interesting thing about the Panoram for me is that it is basically what Thomas Edison envisioned when he originally kickstarted the development of moving picture technologies. He wanted a machine that could reproduce moving images along with recorded songs in his phonograms, and the person would view it through a lens inside a little box, much like a proto-Panoram. The project was called Kinetophonograph, but at the time his technicians were unable to properly construct it. The idea of moving images that could be viewed in a box was then adapted into the Kinetoscope, which is considered by some as the birth of cinema
My pick for the film that was the grandfather of music videos is Footlight Parade, a 1933 Busby Berkeley film with James Cagney and Ruby Keeler. There's one song and dance sequence called Shanghai Lil that wouldn't be out of place in modern videos. Plus, it's Pre Code, so it's very daring for it's day. It's set in a Chinese brothel with an interracial clientele drinking and smoking opium, and Shanghai Lil is a prostitute that a sailor falls for and he ends up smuggling her out of the country, so add trafficking as well. The dancing of Cagney and Keeler is next level, especially when they're trading off footwork on top of the brothel's bar. Watch it, it's on YT. That one sequence has always reminded me of a music video.
I hope in the next video you will talk about Hello Skinny and the other films by The Residents. The Museum of Modern Art even calls it the first music video.
Extremely well done, great research!!! Those 22 minutes just went by flying!! I was hooked!!! You always make amazing videos!! Thanks so much to share your passion with us!!
The Gene Autry trail songs remind me strongly of my grandparents - they moved to Utah when I was a kid and I visited them when I was about 10 years old and we went to the Grand Canyon and Tucson and they played all those western songs on a cassette throughout the drives. I haven't thought about those songs in a long time.
Fantastic video as usual! Two of my favorite things. I directed a short dance musical piece with Emma Stone called “Anna” a few years back. you cited so many of my inspirations for it here. Can’t wait to see the next episode!
Polyphonic dropping a video on Fred Astaire and one of my all-time favorites, Ginger Rogers (😍🥰)... epic! I love intense cinema, but when it's time for something light, theres nothing like an Astaire/Rogers musical.
PS. Just as good are the Busby Berkeley films - 42nd Street and Gold-diggers Of 1933... and the Howard Hawks comedies like His Girl Friday and Only Angels Have Wings.
To me a music video is a non-live video of a single, so any of these early music videoes where its not live, and features a song which was released as a single, counts to me.
Fantasia also pushed film sound technology: it was the first stereo sound film.
Everyone knows the first music video was syncing Dark Side to the Wizard of Oz
😂
Exactly.
I saw most of the Astaire-Rogers films on the big screen at arthouse theaters when we still had those back in the 1970s-1990s, when those films were still considered must-see works for serious film fans and students. Don't let these greats fade into obscurity. Thanks for discussing them, Polyphonic.
I LOVE LUCY gave Desi what was basically a platform for proto-music vids too.
Fun fact: Hewlett-Packard had their first success when Disney hired them (when they were two guys called Packard and Hewlett in a garage in California) to build sound controllers for synching the music for Fantasia in travelling shows.
You make great videos, and I’m looking forward to the rest of this series. However, as a huge Ginger Rogers fan, I have to point out that the actress at 0:57 is actually Una Merkel, who also appeared in 42nd Street.
Another HUGE Rogers fan here. Was just watching 42nd Street again last night... I could watch a whole movie about the two friends played by Rogers & Merkel - they consistently supply the funniest moments in the film.
I love when Ginger appears at the beginning putting on that phony posh British accent... (sighs) _"Oh, dear..."_ 😂🥰
@@Jimmy1982Playlists Yes! I wish they had made a sequel starring those two!
Whoops! My bad
I think it's safe to say that Fred Astaire's scene in Royal Wedding where he danced on the ceiling would've inspired Lionel Richie's music video for "Dancing on the Ceiling." I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in this video.
Yes, that was my thought as well.
Breakin 2 Electric Boogaloo also had Turbo dancing on the ceiling! I remember Entertainment Tonight doing a piece on that scene's choreography and comparing it to Royal Wedding.
Wow, I’m obsessed with this period and wasn’t aware of “Soundies”! Incredible video as always!
Old hollywood and music are two of my favorite things 😊😊 glad that Polyphonic talked about old hollywood and it's connection to the music video it's crazy when you think about it. Movie musicals were huge in the golden age of Hollywood and Fred Astaire, Busby Berkeley and later Gene Kelly were true innovators of that genre of film
For the reference of all, though silent movies were silent and even then, those films got various musical accompaniment and still are to date, the sing-a-long with a bouncing ball often over printed lyrics at the bottom of the screen were a big deal then and as a precursor to Music Video, Mary Pickford's LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925) has this and is a whole film built around that song. The song (which I also like) was so popular, it remained a favorite for decades ands that film did not hurt that one bit. Thank you for another excellent video!
yes, they mentioned this in the previous video in this series :)
@@pumpkinmaryam5500 Ahh and LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY was recently restored.
This might be the best video I've seen you make! And I've been watching for yeeeeeears now. Awesome job, can't wait to see the rest :)
Having this drop and a new Sungazer record on the same day does make me think how awesome a Polyphonic-directed Sungazer music video would be. I feel like the style would really fit. Nebula super-collab please!
The fact that The Nicholas Brothers are not mentioned might be considered an omission.
Admittedly I was never exactly an Elvis fan.
I remember hearing how his lower half was too controversial to be shown to the youth. Looking at it now, it seems extremely tame.
Then I remember white guys I know being baffled when learning to dance in any way that involved their hips.
Maybe it was just jealousy?
The interesting thing about the Panoram for me is that it is basically what Thomas Edison envisioned when he originally kickstarted the development of moving picture technologies. He wanted a machine that could reproduce moving images along with recorded songs in his phonograms, and the person would view it through a lens inside a little box, much like a proto-Panoram. The project was called Kinetophonograph, but at the time his technicians were unable to properly construct it. The idea of moving images that could be viewed in a box was then adapted into the Kinetoscope, which is considered by some as the birth of cinema
My pick for the film that was the grandfather of music videos is Footlight Parade, a 1933 Busby Berkeley film with James Cagney and Ruby Keeler. There's one song and dance sequence called Shanghai Lil that wouldn't be out of place in modern videos. Plus, it's Pre Code, so it's very daring for it's day. It's set in a Chinese brothel with an interracial clientele drinking and smoking opium, and Shanghai Lil is a prostitute that a sailor falls for and he ends up smuggling her out of the country, so add trafficking as well. The dancing of Cagney and Keeler is next level, especially when they're trading off footwork on top of the brothel's bar. Watch it, it's on YT. That one sequence has always reminded me of a music video.
You know it’s a good day when Payioaonci does
I hope in the next video you will talk about Hello Skinny and the other films by The Residents. The Museum of Modern Art even calls it the first music video.
Love your videos. Can’t wait for round 2
I think that is a close up of Una Merkel in 42nd Street and not Ginger Rogers. But great video as always.
4:30 the scopitone onscreen is Vince Taylor And The Playboys ‘Shakin All Over’
Extremely well done, great research!!!
Those 22 minutes just went by flying!! I was hooked!!!
You always make amazing videos!!
Thanks so much to share your passion with us!!
The Gene Autry trail songs remind me strongly of my grandparents - they moved to Utah when I was a kid and I visited them when I was about 10 years old and we went to the Grand Canyon and Tucson and they played all those western songs on a cassette throughout the drives. I haven't thought about those songs in a long time.
I grew up with all these movies. "Face the music and dance" is playing on repeat in my head since the election
Fantastic video as usual! Two of my favorite things. I directed a short dance musical piece with Emma Stone called “Anna” a few years back. you cited so many of my inspirations for it here. Can’t wait to see the next episode!
Great video, some of my all time favourite moments
Oh nice, just sat for lunch!
Who is singing the sweet telephone music? The woman is gorgeous, so is her voice, I'm in awe!
Thanks for this video.
Polyphonic dropping a video on Fred Astaire and one of my all-time favorites, Ginger Rogers (😍🥰)... epic!
I love intense cinema, but when it's time for something light, theres nothing like an Astaire/Rogers musical.
PS. Just as good are the Busby Berkeley films - 42nd Street and Gold-diggers Of 1933... and the Howard Hawks comedies like His Girl Friday and Only Angels Have Wings.
Hey @polyphonic ! great video as always. Does anyone know where the 11:52 clip is from?
I am trying to find that song as well, I can't shazam it.
I tried googling the lyrics but couldn't find it either
Not from a movie, but a "Soundie" titled "Stop That Dancing Up There" from 1944
lets gooo Soundies mentioned!
Pure BRILLIANCE sir.
Have yet to sign up for nebula.
9:55 mentioning Michael Jackson on film without mentioning Bob Fosse
I'll hope that Hard Days Night will get atleast ONE mention.
Just one😂
To me a music video is a non-live video of a single, so any of these early music videoes where its not live, and features a song which was released as a single, counts to me.
Could you make a video about Cliff Burton? And how he revolutionized bass guitar?
This is a good series!
Fred and Ginger are the magic of movies ❤
Dude youve GOTTA make a video about The Smile. Please man I'm begging.
Thank you.
Does anyone know the name of the song at 11:55? I can't find it anywhere, and it kind of bops.
Kay Starr - Stop that dancin' up there
“Stop That Dancin Up There” by Kay Starr and Jimmy Dodd.
@@nicklausbesheers7137 thank you I really appreciate that
Love your videos
Go to 5:59 to skip all the fluff.
What about "the Girl cant help it"?
King of jazz from 1930 was left out too, one of the earliest technicolor musicals that is a showcase for the music of bandleader Paul whiteman
Where is King of Jazz!? That is all music videos.
God I love this channel.
Not Maya Angelou appearing in Calypso Heat Wave
Thank you.
These aren't music videos. Sigh...
we haven’t gotten there yet 🤦♀️
@@pumpkinmaryam5500 the whole projected series is much ado about very little. It's well trod.
I am sorry to be so blunt, but your channel is done for.
I think he’s doing fine