Movies: Soundie

Count Basie does a little rhyming rapping before going into this Benny Goodman instrumental composition. While he's playing, plenty of couples are jitterbugging constantly until, one by one, they get tired and start to fall down on the floor....

1942 Soundies musical short starring The King's Men...

Anna Case sings a song while the Cansino family dances in the background....

Stan Kenton and his Orchestra perform "This Love of Mine" with Cyd Charisse and other dancers...

Doris Day sings "Is It Love or Is It Conscription?" with Les Brown and His Orchestra...

Alan Ladd was discovered by Sue Carol for his incredible voice in radio. And then she married him. In I Look At You, he is sweet and graceful. And at the very beginning of his career in film. He sings and leads Rita Rio's all-girl band while she danc...

Anita O'Day with Gene Krupa and His Orchestra perform "Let Me Off Uptown"....

Johnny Taylor sings "Good Nite All" at a house party....

In this Soundie, the Mills Brothers sing the title song to a cut-out image of Dorothy Dandridge, which then comes to life and dances for them....

The Charioteers perform "Swing for Sale"...

Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra perform "Au Reet"...

Mel Tormé and the Mel-Tones sing the title song in this 1945 Soundie (a short film produced to be played on jukebox-like Panoram machines)....

The Pretty Priorities perform "Take It Off"....

Cab Calloway performing his famous hit "Minnie the Moocher"....

1945 Soundies musical short starring Merle Travis...

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers at their best along with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performing for this "Hot Chocolate" musical short....

The King Cole Trio and Ida James perform the title song in this Soundie....

Helen Huntley and Stan Kenton and His Orchestra perform "Jammin' in the Panoram."...

"When Hitler Kicks the Bucket" is sung by Toni Lane. The lyrics recount all the delightful things that will happen on the day of Hitler's funeral....

1943 Soundies musical short starring Larry Clinton...