Charming Film with Lively Music and Great Sets

Posted by Gerald Parker on Sep 5th 2019

"Dance Band", the title, might mislead potential viewers that this will be a swing music oriented motion picture. There is lots of music, and some dancing, but the musical style is basically the "hot dance" music that flourished alongside genuine swing and other jazz music during the 1930s and 1940s.

The music-making is pretty lively and up-beat. By the end of the film the rival all-male and all-girl dance bands merge for a rousing (albeit musically brief) conclusion. The sets and props in the film throughout are exceptionally nice examples of "art deco" (or its variant, "streamline moderne"), a real pleasure to the eye. So, even if the plot and action of the film are dopey or hokey, depending upon one's taste regarding that sort of thing, the film is charming and mildly amusing.

The screen and sound quality are exceptionally good in Zeus' reissue. The clarity of both image and sound are very pleasing and add to the delight that one can take in alike viewing and hearing what the movie has to offer.