Films featuring British Dance Bands, 1929-1949
this page first published by John Wright, 18 Sept 1997
last update 15 dec 2001
vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk
As well as on records, dance band music was recorded for films during the 78 rpm era. This page begins the list of early sound films known to feature British dance bands, with the titles of songs and music featured in the films.
Note: there is also a list of movies who had a danceband leader as MD but in
which I have yet to establish if bands are seen and heard in those movies, see Dance Band MD's.
Also many Shorts and Newsreels featured bands.
A - C
Recent updates to danceband listing:
Updates from 'Jazz In The Movies' by David Meeker (1972)
| Updates from Terry Brown, 1999
| TV means has been shown on television
| V is also available on video
| |
If you can add to this list, can fill in any of the gaps or if you know of websites
or books dealing with old movies that might have useful information
then please e-mail me.
Lists in this format (c) John A B Wright/Terry Brown, 1999-2001
Major films featuring British dance bands: A-C
| FILM | DATE | FEATURING |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment With Crime | 1946 | Buddy Featherstonhaugh & his sextet Lew Stone and his band Elizabeth Webb Herbert Lom, William Hartnell, Robert Beatty |
| Around the Town | Jun '38 | Maurice Winnick's Band Vic Oliver Tin Pan Alley Trio Elisabeth Welch, Les Carew Pat McCormack The Rhthym Sisters The Three Hillbillies Terry’s Juveniles Al and Bob Harvey Jimmy Kennedy Michael Carr |
| Atlantic | 1929 | John Reynders Orch (British International Symphonic Orchestra |
| Aunt Sally | Dec '33 | Debroy Somers Band Cicely Courtenidge Billy Milton Leslie Holmes Carlyle Cousins |
| Band Waggon | Jan '40 | Jack Hylton Orch Arthur Askey Pat Kirkwood Bruce Trent Freddy Schweitzer Forsythe, Seamon and Farrell |
| Battle For Music | 1943 | Jack Hylton (without band) |
| Big Business | Sept '30 | Arthur Roseberry's Band (augmented/symphonic) Claude Hulbert Francis Day Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson Leon Cortez with Giggie |
| The Big Noise | Mar '36 | Reginald Foresythe Band Norah Howard Alistair Sim |
| Bill and Coo | Jun '31 | Herman Darewski and his band Billy Merson |
| Bitter Sweet | 1933 | Lew Stone and his Band Ivy St Helier Stuart Robertson |
| The Blue Danube | Aug '31 | Alfred Rode and his Tzigane Band Brigitte Helm Joseph Schildkraut |
| Boots Boots | 1934 | Harry Hudson and his band George and Beryl Formby |
| Brewster's Millions | July '35 | Geraldo and his Sweet Music (?) Jack Buchanan |
| Britannia Of Billingsgate | July '33 | Roy Fox's Kit-Kat Band ? Mike Taylor reports not seeing the band when he viewed the film Violet Lorraine Gordon Harker |
| Cabaret | 1943 | Reginald King and his Orch. |
| Cafe Colette | Jul '36 | Cafe Colette Orch. Bruce Seton Sally Gray |
| Calling All Crooks | May '38 | The Gypsy Revellers Duggie Wakefield Billy Nelson |
| Calling All Stars | Mar '37 | Bert Ambrose Orch Sam Browne Evelyn Dall Carroll Gibbons' Savoy Hotel Orpheans Eugene Pini and his Tango Orch Elizabeth Welch Buck & Bubbles The Nicholas Brothers Turner Layton Billy Bennett Larry Adler Leslie Carew Canadian Batchelors |
| Calling The Tune | July '36 | Reginald Foresythe Band Clifford Evans Adele Dixon George Robey Charles Penrose |
| Call Me Mame | June '33 | Carroll Gibbons' Savoy Hotel Orpheans Edith Livesey John Batten |
| Captain's Orders | Aug '37 | Jack Hart and his Band Henry Edwards Jane Carr |
| The Chance Of A Night-Time | 1931 | Roy Fox and his band(?) (is heard but not seen) Al Bowlly is seen and heard. Ralph Lynn Lew Stone, MD |
| Charing Cross Road | 1935 | Percival Mackey's Orch (?) Arthur Young and his Tzigane Band (?) June Clyde John Mills Belle Baker |
| Cheerio | Oct '35 | Billy Merrin & His Commanders Ken Crossley, Jimmy and Alice Dey |
| Cheer Up | 1936 | Percival Mackey and his Band Stanley Lupino Sally Gray |
| Chinese Cabaret | Jan '36 | Hal Fox and his band |
| Clap Hands | Mar '35 | Charlie Kunz, Teddy Brown |
| Comets | 1930 | The Golden Serenaders Elsa Lanchester |
| The Common Touch | Oct '41 | Carroll Gibbon's and his Orch. Sandy McPherson (organ) Mark Hambourg (piano) Harry Welchman Greta Gynt |
Go to other listings of films featuring British dance bands:
|| D-G || H-L || M-O || P-S || T-Z ||
There is an active discussion group where you can talk about the great British dance bands:
or check out the group site first at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/british-dance-bands/
| North America: find a video at Amazon: search for title: |
|
or browse the website:
|
AMAZON NOTE: North American NTSC format only available.
| UK/Europe: find a video at Blackstar:
Search for title, star, director: |
|
or click to browse
|
BLACKSTAR NOTE: European PAL format only available.
Videos of vintage movies are available in UK/Europe PAL system from TVideo Website, check their listings of Musicals and Comedies.
Videos of some of these movies can also be ordered from:
TCM NOTE: North American NTSC format only available.
Turner Classic Movies TV channel is now available in Britain via Sky Digital
Then please e-mail me.