Jack Benny's dry humor helps this little musical documentary move along, introducing the unseen heroes of the movie musical to the screen audience. Of course, it's mostly songs heard in early MGM musicals, especially Nacio Herb Brown and future producer Arthur Freed who gets to sing his own lyrics.
Song Writers' Revue, The (1930) *** (out of 4) MGM short has a young Jack Benny introducing eight of the world's most famous song writers who then play brief parts of their most famous songs. Gus Edwards, Dave Dreyer, Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk, Ray Heindorf, Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed, Ray Egan, Fred Fisher and Dave Snell all take part in the short.
An MGM Short Subject.Melody masters get to briefly shine in front of the cameras for THE SONG WRITERS' REVUE.
This short subject that MGM did was to celebrate in 1930 what was still regarded with some wonder, the fact that now that the movies could speak they could also sing and dance. A new genre was introduced to film, the musical.
Jack Benny is an emcee of a musical review that mostly consists of famous composers playing their music. The problem is that Benny is trying very hard to be funny, though none of his prattle is the least bit amusing.
