Rockin' the Blues
Cast & Crew
Arthur Rosenblum
Mantan Moreland
F. E. Miller
Connie Carroll
Harptones
Linda Hopkins
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Two black women are attracted by a theater marquee that announces, "Now playing, Rock 'n' Roll Revue." They enter the theater, and soon afterward, the show begins. New York disc jockey Hal Jackson first introduces Connie Carroll, then "the singing, swinging Wanderers," a male vocal quartet. Outside the theater, meanwhile, two men push their vegetable cart up to the building, where they, too, are attracted by the marquee. As Jackson introduces the five Miller Sisters inside, the vegetable peddlers, who, although penniless, are intent upon seeing beautiful showgirls, try to enter the theater but are immediately thrown out. The more persistent of the two sits by a theater window, his leg tucked underneath him, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girls inside. After the next number, a well-dressed woman walks past the building. Seeing the peddler, she assumes he has lost his leg and gives him some coins. Surprised and pleased, the man mumbles, "This is a great hustle!" and continues to elicit sympathy and money from passersby. The show continues with vocalist Linda Hopkins, followed by the Wanderers. In front of the theater, the two men discuss their lack of money, which leads to an argument about numbers. While one of the men has trouble distinguishing one number from another, the other peddler tries to prove that seven goes into twenty-eight thirteen times. Next, Jackson introduces the Hurricanes, a male vocal quartet, and during their performance, one of the peddlers sneaks backstage and tells a pretty dancer that he recognizes her from the film Anna Lucasta . In turn, she identifies him as "Birmingham" from the "Charlie Chan" pictures. Soon, a policeman enters and begins looking for the intruder. On stage, Pearl Woods performs, and just before Connie Carroll is re-introduced, the peddler excitedly tells her how much he admires her. After a female dancer performs to an instrumental tune, the peddler is ejected from the theater, but immediately starts thinking of a way to use his book on jiu-jitsu to get back in. While the Harptones sing their number inside, the peddler tries his missing leg routine again. After the second peddler indignantly sends him away with the exclamation, "You're robbing people!" he tries the routine himself. Linda Hopkins performs a number and then introduces The Cuban Dancers. Police chase the peddlers away from the theater as the Harptones, the final act of the show, sing their rock 'n roll numbers.
Director
Arthur Rosenblum
Cast
Mantan Moreland
F. E. Miller
Connie Carroll
Harptones
Linda Hopkins
Wanderers
Pearl Woods
Hurricanes
Miller Sisters
Reese La Rue
Marilyn Bennett
Elyce Roberts
Lee Lynn
Hal Jackson
Billy Washington
Toni Harris
Anita Turner
Teacho Wiltshire Hot Band
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although the statement "Copyright Austin Productions" appears on the film, Rockin' the Blues does not appear in the copyright catalog. The picture was not listed in release charts, but, according to NYSA records, was approved for release in New York state in 1956. The first review located for the film was in the Amsterdam News (New York) in September 1956. According to a modern source, however, the film May have been exhibited as early as 1955. Fritz Pollard Associates was a public relations firm. The The Exhibitor review noted that the film would "probably be best appreciated in theatres catering to the Negro trade."
