Lazybones

"Lazybones" is a short film that is a 'Soundie'...an early sort of music video that was played on specially built jukeboxes from 1940-1947. These jukeboxers were unusual because they not only played music but video...like music videos of the modern era. And, if you are curious about this an other soundies, you might want to buy yourself a copy of "Soundies the Ultimate Collection"...a 4 disc set of about 200 of these films.

This song features Hoagy Carmichael singing and playing the piano. As he plays, his maid (a young Dorothy Dandridge) and a butler enter the room. As for this black butler, he dances in slow motion with a tray with a tea service on it...on his head!! It seems like it was nailed there and his skills are incredible. Sadly, however, some might blanch at the black performers in servant garb. But I'd hate for everyone to get so caught up that they cannot admire the skills involved.

Well, here's my third review of a Soundie that featured Dorothy Dandridge, only this time she only dances. The singer here is Hoagy Carmichael on the piano singing the title song whose lyrics is by Johnny Mercer. He has a couple of beautiful white women at his side while Dorothy is a maid who's trying to keep butler Peter Ray from letting a tray with pitcher on it from falling off his head. Despite the obvious stereotyping of the last two, they do perform a pretty entertaining dance during the instrumental part of Hoagy's song, particularly Ray's constant moving of his head in trying to balance the tray. Since this is only three minutes, I don't think much harm concerning those types is done here. And Hoagy is sooo cool with his singing. So on that note, I recommend Lazybones.

Hoagy Carmichael plays and sings "Lazybones" while while Peter Ray and 19-year-old Dorothy Dandridge dance in this soundie.

Soundies were short films, essentially music videos meant to be played on a device known as the Mills Panaram. For a dime, you got a three-minute short. The devices were installed in bars and other venues similar to regular jukeboxes. From 1940 through 1946, Mills and competitors produced more than 2000 of these short films.

Many performers got their first film exposure on these devices: not only Miss Dandridge, but singers like Doris Day. Almost invariably, the sound portion was recorded separately from the visuals, with the performers syncing the action.