In this 17-minute musical short, Gene Krupa plays Gene King, a small-town big band leader who takes his locally famous orchestra to New York to make the big time in the music business. The Big Apple, however, turns out to be a tough nut to crack for an unknown band from the sticks. Since Gene and his boys have to eat, they take jobs as waiters at a swank night club. Unsurprisingly, professional jazz musicians are just not cut out for such menial tasks. On one occasion, Gene even spills soup over a distinguished older gentleman guest, causing the French head waiter to explode, if only verbally. One night, Gene's fiancé, a girl singer (played by Nan Leslie) from back home, walks into the club. Having promised her (and the whole town) to make good in New York, Gene and the boys spontaneously occupy the bandstand while the regular band takes a break and play a hot, jazzy tune, pretending THEY are the band. Needless to say, their little show backfires as the club's owner, furious over the violation of his "polite music" musical policy, immediately puts the boys out to pasture. However, after a short gig at a Russian restaurant, they are re-hired because the night club's customers have been clamoring for their return. Finally, their big break is here. Apart from the snappy tunes played by the band in this film (Boogie Woogie Blues, Opus 140, Up 'n Atom), the big surprise is Gene Krupa's acting. Even though he was not a trained actor, he does a very credible job in this comedic assignment - as he did in his other movie appearances over the years. He was a born showman, with good looks and talent galore. The members of his band are part actors, part real musicians like trumpeter Red Rodney. If you look closely, you can spot a very young Gerry Mulligan in the outfit, tall, skinny, and red-haired (distinguishable even in black-and-white). The music is excellent, of course, with the brass section playing at full blast and with wonderful precision. Gene's drum solos are just out of this world, as usual. If you dig big band jazz as I do, you must not overlook "Follow That Music"
