268 of 1001 Movies: The Docks of New York (1928)

Somehow I missed that The Docks of New York was a silent movie when I rented it. It's probably one of the better silent movies I've seen though, directed by Josef Von Sternberg. The movie is visually well shot even for what they were using at the time, but most impressive of all is how the setting of this movie captures the 20's so well. You aren't watching a movie about the 20's, you're watching a movie shot in that time, and in that time. It makes it that much more interesting, especially with leads like Betty Compson.

Summary: Bill Roberts is a worker on the docks who finds a woman, Mae, trying to commit suicide. He rushes in to save her from drowning, but not only does he save a woman, but he also finds that his life is about to change. It makes it that much harder to go back to work when he knows that he now has Mae, but when circumstances threaten to take her away from him again he might be willing to give it all up to be with her.

11 of 1001 Songs: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five's St. James Infirmary Blues

Everyone has heard of Louis Armstrong, but you may have heard that one popular song by him where he sings about it being a wonderful world. Armstrong has a lot better work out there than that though, beginning with St. Jame Infirmary, which is a wonderful jazz song that captures all the coolness of the 20's in New Orleans. It makes me only want to go to that time to hear it.

History: Louis Armstrong had been performing before joining with the Hot Five, but after they got together they would be the first jazz recording band led under his own name. There were two different musician arrangements for the hot fives though, and with the second group s when Armstrong recorded St. James Infirmary Blues. Unlike the previous group he played with they set out to arrange more of their music that play it freestyle.

5 of 1001 Songs: Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux's Allons A Lafayette

Photo not subject to copyright. Public domain. 

Well with the song list it is time to travel to Louisiana with Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux. I found this photo of them that and I've got to say they look a tad happier than many other photos from that time. Falcon played the accordion and Breaux played the guitar as shown. As with the few classic songs I've listened to so far, I enjoyed this as well. It's just relaxing and the song has this interesting story to go along with it. I just feel it is rich in culture and content.

History:  Allons a Lafayette is the B-Side to a 78 RPM album that was recorded by Joe and Cleoma. It is based on an older song called Jeunes Gens de la Campagne. What makes this song really unique and interesting for me is that it is the first Cajun song to be recorded. I didn't even know there were Cajun songs.