This is from a DVD box set of public domain B movies. Apparently nobody knows who made this — there’s no entry on imdb and the movie itself doesn’t say who the director is.
But I’m guessing this had to be from the early 30s? But not too early — the audio is scratchy, but actually sounds pretty nice.
Hm… or perhaps it’s way later? The songs could be 40s songs… It’s just weird they’d use the name “soundies” if it’s not early 30s.
It’s a kind of vaudeville thing, but in this movie it’s being presented as happening at a party in a house.
There’s comedy bits, and there’s musical bits.
Wow, this routine is so boring I literally died.
Oh!! This isn’t actually a movie, but just a compilation of shorts!
The first one was kinda bad, but let’s hope this one is better.
This one has more pizzazz.
And is from 1934.
This tune is very good.
That’s an unusual pan.
Man, Ethel Water’s got a beautiful voice. And another pretty good tune.
But so short! That song should have been three times as long.
“Soundies” were American films based around a song, dance, or orchestral number. They were at their peak between 1941 and 1947 and presented as 16mm “jukebox” films in nightclubs, taverns and amusement centres.
So the Ethel Waters thing is from 34, but the other two are from 49 and 47.
Very confusing.
I should buy more chicken.
Man, this routine is … well, actually, I’m not sure what it is. The sound is kinda bad on this so I’m only picking out one word in three. It might be hilarious for all I know, but I don’t think so.
The Ethel Waters thing was pretty good, but the other two bits weren’t.
I’ve never seen this movie with the Odorama cards… But I wonder whether this 2K Criterion release has the cards?
OH MY GOD! IT DOES!
Yes! It smells like rose! I’m guessing all the other smells are going to be just as pleasant!
(No spoilers, please.)
Hey! We went to 1.85:1 all of a sudden!
All the stars.
My god, this movie is brilliant.
I guess it’s Waters’ last “classic” movie? With all his crew?
After doing movies in a pretty steady clip, there’s a seven year pause before his next movie — Hairspray, which was a major studio film, I think.
That is the only way I’m moving around from now on! Disco dancing all the time!
Nice!
I’m shocked, but the Odorama cards really add a certain jennesequa to this movie. I’ve seen it several times before, but without the cards.
So the “3” is flashing, and I grab the card and sniff and I’m not quite sure what I’m sniffing…
Yes! It’s glue! I’m sniffing glue!
Fantastic.
But whatever you do, don’t use your nails for scratching! You’ll never get the odours off your fingers.
Hey! I love India Song… I’ve watched it a bunch of times. And now I’ve got a new 2K restoration, so I’m gonna watch it again one of these days.
Hopefully somebody’ll do a Duras box set one of these days.
Nice!
Heh heh.
Well, OK, now the movie is over, and I’ve washed my hands nine times, and I’m airing out the apartment, because the smells were all kinda vile. Even the good smells! They all had a kinda solventey unpleasant smell going on, probably composed of chemicals illegal in the EU. And several of the smells were just impossible to tell what they were supposed to smell… but they had to source a new supplier for this edition, since the old supplier had gone out of business.
