A Bundle Of Blues (1933)
*** (out of 4)
There's certainly no plot to be found in this Paramount short but what it lacks in story it certainly makes up in music. Duke Ellington and His Orchestra perform five songs and to say there's fire to them would be an understatement. Bugle Call Rag, Lightnin', Rockin' in Rhythm, A Bundle of Blues and Stormy Weather are the five songs and it's doubtful you could play this to anyone and they not feel something positive. The Stormy Weather tune will always be remembered for the Lena Horne version from the film of the same name but I was quite impressed with the version done here. It doesn't contain that certain sting that the Horne version does but I thought they did a good job with the number. The other numbers aren't quite as entertaining but it's still impossible for you to grow boring. Ellington's entire performance here hits all the right spots as the tempo pretty much stays the same from number to number but this is still pretty powerful stuff. Just check out the number when a couple female dancers do a little act and see how well shot it is and how well it goes against the music being played. Fans of Ellington's music will certainly do themselves a favor by checking this short out, which can be found on the Kino release titled Hollywood Rhythm Vol. 1.
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