Films featuring British Dance Bands, 1929-1949
this page first published by John Wright, 18 Sept 1997
last update 15 Dec 2006
vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk
As well as on records, dance band music was recorded for films during the 78 rpm era. This page continues to list the old 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 I have not yet established if bands are seen and heard in those movies, see Dance Band MD's.
Also many Shorts and Newsreels featured bands.
H - L
Recent updates to danceband listing:
Updates from 'Jazz In The Movies' by David Meeker (1972)
| Updates from Terry Brown, July 1999
| Updates from Denis King, Feb 2000
| 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
Major films featuring British dance bands: H-L
| FILM | DATE | FEATURING |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Days Are Here Again | Mar '36 | Syd Seymour and his Mad Hatters Renee and Billie Houston |
| Hearts Of Humanity | Nov '36 | Teddy Joyce and his Band Wilfred Walter Stanley Kirkby |
| Heatwave | May '35 | Lecuona Cuban Boys, Les Allen |
| Hello Sweetheart | Feb '35 | Carroll Gibbons (piano only) Claude Hulbert The Three Ginx Johnnie Nit (tap dancer) |
| Here We Go Again | 1942 | Ray Noble |
| Hi Gang | 1941 | Jay Wilbur and his Band Bebe Daniels Ben Lyon Sam Browne Three Green Sisters Vic Oliver Note: Thanks to Denis King for the information on this film. Denis also reports that background music heard from a radio includes Down and Out Blues by Al Bowlly/Sid Colin and Lew Stone Orch., and also Moonglow by Benny Goodman Trio V |
| High Jinks in Society | 1949 | The Squadronnaires The Radio Revellers |
| His Majesty and Co | Nov '34 | Alfredo Campoli and his Tzigane Orch. John Garrick Barbara Waring |
| Home From Home | Nov '38 | The Five Harmonica Rascals The Gaillard Brothers Sandy Powell |
| Honeymoon For Three | May '35 | Percival Mackey and his Band Stanley Lupino Aileen Mason |
| I Adore You | Nov '33 | Carroll Gibbons' Savoy Hotel Orpheans Harold French Margot Grahame |
| I Live In Grosvenor Square or A Yank In London | Mar '45 | Carroll Gibbons' Savoy Hotel Orpheans Bob Farnon and the Band of the American Expeditionary Forces Sgt. Viccari and the G.I. Band Anna Neagle Rex Harrison |
| Illegal | Feb '32 | Billy Gerhardi and his band Isobel Elsom |
| Indiscretions of Eve | May '32 | Marius B. Winter's Band Teddy Brown Fred Conyngham Steffi Duna |
| Intimate Relations | Nov '37 | Lew Stone and his Band Garry Marsh June Clyde |
| In Town Tonight | Jan '35 | Billy Merrin & His Commanders Howard Jacobs and his Orch. Dave Apollon and his Romantic Serenaders Val Rosing |
| It's A King | Dec '32 | Lew Stone and his Band Bela Berkes & his Gypsy Players |
| Jimmy Boy | Aug '35 | Reginald Foresythe Band Jimmy O'Dea |
| Just For A Song | Mar '30 | Syd Seymour and his Mad Hatters |
| Just My Luck | Oct '32 | Lew Stone and his Monseigneur Band Tom Walls Robertson Hare Ralph Lynn Winifred Shotter SONGS ? |
| Keep Your Seats Please | 1936 | Debroy Somers Band George Formby Florence Desmond TV |
| Kentucky Minstrels | Nov '34 | Debroy Somers Band Nina Mae McKinney Harry Scott Eddie Whaley |
| Kicking The Moon Around US: Millionaire Merry-Go-Round | June '38 | Bert Ambrose Orch Evelyn Dall Harry Richman Maureen O'Hara V |
| King of Hearts | Jan '36 | Horace Sheldon and his Orch. Java's Tzigane Band Will Fyffe |
| The King's Cup | Jan '33 | Lew Stone and his Band Harry Milton Music by Vivian Ellis |
| Kitty | 1928 | Eddie Carroll's Band silent film, this entry may be in error |
| Landfall | Oct '49 | Teddy Foster's Band |
| Laugh It Off | 1940 | Geraldo and his Orch. Tommy Trinder Sidney Burchall |
| Leap Year | 1932 | appearance by Roy Fox band not confirmed SONGS ? |
| Let's Make A Night Of It | July '37 | the bands of: Harry Acres, Eddie Carroll, Jack Harris, Jack Jackson, Sydney Lipton, Joe Loss, Rudy Starita Buddy Rogers June Clyde Dan Donovan Zelma O'Neil Molly Picon Fred Emney |
| Lieutenant Daring RN | Aug '35 | Horace Sheldon and his Band Hugh Williams Geraldine Fitzgerald John Rorke |
| Lilies Of The Field | July '35 | Geraldo and his Sweet Music Winifred Shotter Claude Hulbert The Aspidistras (Elsie French & John Mott) |
| Limelight | 1935 | Geraldo and his Orch, Arthur Tracey Anna Neagle Tilly Losch Jack Buchanan Ralph Reader Bobbie and Virginia |
| Little Damozel | 1933 | Ray Noble Orchestra (to be confirmed) |
| Little Dolly Daydream | Jan '38 | Guy Jones and his Band Binkie Stuart Talbot O'Farrell Jane Welsh |
| London Melody | 1937 | Geraldo Orch Anna Neagle Tullio Carminati |
| London Town | Sept '46 | Ted Heath and his Band, Jack Parnell (drums) Beryl Davis Marion Saunders MD, Tutti Camerata |
| The Love Contract | 1932 | Lew Stone and his Band |
| Love Mirth and Melody | May '34 | Lionel Claff and his Band Royal Merry Four |
| . | . | . |
Go to other pages of films featuring dance bands
|| A-C || D-G || 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/
| find a DVD or VHS video at Amazon: search for title: |
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or browse the website:
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Then please e-mail me.
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