A couple years ago, in writing about Louis Armstrong and the song Hello, Dolly!" I noted how unfortunate it was that there was no video online of his great cameo appearance in the movie version of the musical. At one point there had been, but it was taken down. A shame, because it's one of the great surprise cameos in film. But we now have it. (Basically.) O huzzah! The "basically" is because it's not the full scene, but just his appearance only, starting a couple of seconds before before he turns around on camera. That's okay, it's moment that counts, but seeing the complete scene leading up to makes that moment more dramatic and special, putting it in context. But we'll take what we get. Because it's so wonderful and such a great treat. (They do, however, continue the number afterwards, to bring the song to its conclusion. So, you at least get a sense of the full production. And one more brief look at Satchmo "conducting" from the back.) The brief background is that Louis Armstrong's recording of Jerry Herman's song was one of the biggest singles in music history at the time. (I believe it was the #3 top-selling single ever, when it got released in 1964.) His Hello, Dolly! album knocked The Beatles off #1 on the Billboard charts after 14-weeks there. When I saw him that summer at the Ravinia Music Festival, the audience reaction was so huge that he sang the song six times -- the first time through and four encores. (Not all the way through each time, just a short encore version.) So, it was an endearing and wonderful secret that the filmmakers had the good sense to put him in the movie, keep it a secret, and all the better found a way to make it fit naturally in the scene. And when the reveal comes, it's just pure joy on screen and in the audience. The set-up is that Dolly Levi (played by Barbra Streisand) is returning to the Harmonia Gardens restaurant for the first time in years. There's a dance contest going on, as well, which she's help get two of the characters entered in, as a sub-plot point. And when word comes that Dolly has arrived, the musical build-up ratchets to a fever pitch until she finally appears at the top of the stairs. And then slowly walks down to the famous vamping music, and the song at last begins. It's all very theatrical, dramatic and great fun. And it's also near-impossible -- especially at that time -- not to think of Louis Armstrong's version of the song, despite Carol Channing originating it on Broadway, and despite Barbra Streisand singing it in the film. The number goes on, its filmed lushly and extremely well, hitting all the high points -- directed by Gene Kelly, by the way, and choreographed by Michael Kidd. And as the number builds, Dolly moves through the dance floor with the restaurant's band in the background (there's a dance competition there, remember...) and if you look closely you can see the bandleader from the back, leading them. And as Dolly crosses over, he sees her, turns around and...it's Louis freaking Armstrong! And even more naturally, the first words out of his mouth fit perfectly -- "Well, hello, Dolly!" And all the words that follow fit perfectly, as well, to the moment. And his performance is exuberant. It is just a great film moment. For the surprise, for the build-up, for the reveal, for the performance, for the history. Barbra Streisand is interesting in the scene. On the one hand, she clearly is trying to compete with him on screen (and I believe channeling a bit Pearl Bailey's take on the song), and not only do you not compete with Louis Armstrong with "Hello, Dolly!", this is his moment, and his moment only. On the other hand, she also has the good sense to let him shine and have his moment. So, it's a fascinating contrast of competing with him and complementing him. Overall -- it doesn't matter, it's such a great moment. It works, joyously. And his wave at the end just gets me every time. Pure happiness. By the way, what's fun here, too, is that his line, "This is Louis, Dolly" -- that wasn't put in for the movie. That's how it sang the song in his original recording! It just happened to fit perfectly in the movie, as he reintroduces himself to someone who hasn't seen him in many years.. And we have a bonus. This is Louis Armstrong and his band performing "Hello, Dolly!" live at the height of its popularity, in 1965 in Berlin. And there's a reason I chose this version. It's because I saw the video was listed as running 6:05, and I knew the song isn't half that long. And indeed my guess was right -- I've had some friends skeptical over the years that Louis Armstrong actually sang the song six times back then at the Ravinia Festival, wondering if my memory over time was a little off. But in this video, he sings the song four times -- the original and three partial encores. So, my "six" is clearly in the same ballpark, and I stand by the figure. What also stands out here is that it's obvious they're planning to do the encores, and hardly wait for the applause to build. My sense is that because this is 1965, they've been performing the song for a year, and by this point they absolutely know what the audience reaction is to this beloved mega-hit. So, rather than milk the applause and wait and wait and...they just basically cut to the chase and dive right in when they hear the big applause each time.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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