Do not watch this movie in real time. Rather, tape it or get the DVD so you can fast forward through every scene with just white people in it. That will leave you with about 15 minutes or so of performances by Louis Armstrong and his combo and Billie Holiday. Although heavily lip-synched, they are still worth watching at least for historical interest, especially the scenes with Billie and Louie performing together. Also, Louie's personality and joy of performance still shine through and are genuine pleasures.
The only other point of interest is Billie Holiday's 'performance' (to be generous) as an obsequious maid! It is the saddest spectacle ever offered up by American popular culture!!! True, many great black performers had to humble themselves to get into the movies but Billie didn't need the movies and she was otherwise quite vocal about being nobody's fool (except, tragically, her own). Watching her in these scenes, I couldn't help but think about her criticism of Louie Armstrong ("Louie 'Tom's from the heart"). Sad, sad, sad. I watched it as if it were a road-side accident...I felt guilty for gawking but I couldn't look away, either.
Everything else is just filler (much like 'Cuban Pete', a turgid little romantic comedy whose only excuse for existence is to showcase the hot, new (1946) Cuban sensation, Desi Arnaz and his Orchestra. For that reason, I recommend it highly with the same caveat...skip everything that isn't music).
The only other point of interest is Billie Holiday's 'performance' (to be generous) as an obsequious maid! It is the saddest spectacle ever offered up by American popular culture!!! True, many great black performers had to humble themselves to get into the movies but Billie didn't need the movies and she was otherwise quite vocal about being nobody's fool (except, tragically, her own). Watching her in these scenes, I couldn't help but think about her criticism of Louie Armstrong ("Louie 'Tom's from the heart"). Sad, sad, sad. I watched it as if it were a road-side accident...I felt guilty for gawking but I couldn't look away, either.
Everything else is just filler (much like 'Cuban Pete', a turgid little romantic comedy whose only excuse for existence is to showcase the hot, new (1946) Cuban sensation, Desi Arnaz and his Orchestra. For that reason, I recommend it highly with the same caveat...skip everything that isn't music).