Two Plus Fours

This short subject was done by Paul Whiteman's Rhythm boys shortly after they finished The King of Jazz where lead singer Bing Crosby made his motion picture debut. Shortly afterwards the trio broke up and Bing went solo and the rest was history.

It's amusing, not as good as Crosby's Mack Sennett shorts which he did before making his first starring role in The Big Broadcast. The trio isn't even the center of the plot. They're just three of a whole gang of students from Tait College who patronize a tailor named Ginsberg who is called Ripstitch.

An actor named Nat Carr is Ginsberg and he's the pivotal role of this short. He certainly is the quintessential Jewish tailor.

The one number that the Rhythm Boys do is a satiric version of the Maine Stein Song which coincidentally was a big hit for Crosby's crooning rival Rudy Vallee.

Try as I may though, I've never known too many Jewish families who name their daughters Mary. But you'll find it here though.

Bing should never be judged by this short subject.

Within a short time after making "Two Plus Fours", Bing Crosby became a HUGE international singing sensation. However, here he is just one of a group of college students and he isn't any more prominently featured than any of the other guys. So this is not a very auspicious beginning for this man who would one day become a beloved American actor, singer and Oscar-winner.

The film begins with a groups of college students whooping it up on the train back to school. The boys decide to shoot dice with one of the porters (yes, having a black guy shooting dice was a common negative stereotype of the day) and lose everything. Still, they aren't too worried as they know good old Ripstitch the Tailor (excellently played by Nat Carr) is such a nice old guy that he'll extend them credit. But what they don't know is that Ripstitch is almost broke himself--and cannot possibly pay the rent unless the boys are able to pay him. What will happen with this nice old guy?!

This was a surprisingly enjoyable old comedy/musical. Aside from not seeing and hearing enough of Crosby, it's a good film--far better than I expected. And, for 1930, the sound is good and the overall film well worth seeing--particularly if you love Hollywood's golden age and want to see a young Bing at work.