Light On Dark Water

Frances Carroll and the Coquettes

Weekend Music

A couple of Saturday nights ago my wife and I watched a movie–actually we watch a movie almost every Saturday night–and after it was over I switched to Turner Classic Movies, which is a sort of idle habit of mine. There was a 1940 musical called Too Many Girls playing. It featured Lucille Ball, whom neither of us had ever seen in anything before her I Love Lucy years. My wife was intrigued, but as the movie was well under way at that point I went immediately to Netflix and put it at the top of the queue. So last Saturday night that was what we watched.

It was pretty bad, definitely not more than a period piece. I'm not a big fan of musicals, although I do enjoy some of the really good ones, like My Fair Lady. Although it's by Rodgers and Hart, the music didn't strike me as very engaging or memorable (granted, that was only one hearing), though the ersatz college fight song "Pottawattamie" ("PAHtahWAHtamy") was witty. 

When it was over, we looked at the extra stuff on the DVD, and found this, which was really more enjoyable than the movie for the most part. I like the drummer. She looks awfully young. And she looks like she's having a great time.

 

13 responses to “Frances Carroll and the Coquettes”

  1. Jeff Woodward

    What strikes me about the video is how un-“dated” both the set design and the costumes seem. It’s really beautiful and sleek and sophisticated-looking. Much less out-of-fashion than ’50s or ’60s or (God help us) ’70s styles now look.
    To say nothing of the overt sexuality that the number infuses the act of conducting an orchestra with. One wonders if Toscanini ever thought of accomplishing that much “when he just wiggled his thumb….”
    Delightful.

    Reply
  2. Mac

    I didn’t really think about the set, but about Ms. Carrol’s dress, definitely. “(God help us) ’70s styles”–indeed. And that’s some fairly risque dancing she does. I’ve heard people express amazement that what’s-his-name–Qtub or something–who founded a radical Islamist movement was so appalled by American culture in the ’40s, but if you look at it according to the standards of a puritanical traditionalist culture it’s no surprise at all.
    I wondered why there is what seems to be a Viking ship in the background on the set.

    Reply
  3. Janet

    I just have not been able to get this to download.
    I keep reading the title as “Father Carroll.”
    AMDG

    Reply
  4. Mac

    It’s long for YouTube (10 minutes or so), but that shouldn’t make any difference as to whether you can stream it or not. Don’t know why you’re having the problem.

    Reply
  5. Janet

    I finally got it to work. I missed my calling.
    AMDG

    Reply
  6. Mac

    As a band leader? drummer?

    Reply
  7. Janet

    Saxophone.
    AMDG

    Reply
  8. Mac

    Can you actually play it, or just wishing you could?

    Reply
  9. Janet

    Wishing.
    AMDG

    Reply
  10. Vic Ambrosio

    Frances Carroll just oozes sex. Frustrated, I cant find out anything about her later life. Anyone?

    Reply
  11. Mac

    Nope, no idea. The fact that this post comes up near the top of search results in Google suggests that there isn’t a whole lot of information out there. But thanks for causing me to watch this again. It’s really fun.
    After I watched it, YouTube offered me a video of an interview with the drummer, Viola Smith. I haven’t watched it yet but it should be interesting:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzCWHw7ZW8
    I didn’t notice when I originally posted this that she’s given explicit billing in the intro to the movie, so I guess she had something of a reputation in her own right. Or at least that Frances Carroll knew how important she was. And then there’s her prominence in the stage setup.

    Reply
  12. Linda Bartash

    I just found this notice and realized that many people have interest in knowing more about my Aunt Vi – the drummer. (My mother, Mildred, was the black haired saxophone player). While billed as the fastest girl drummer, she is now known as the oldest living drummer having celebrated her 106th birthday last November. You can find many fascinating interviews with her on the internet including clips of her in the original kit kat band in Cabaret.

    Reply
  13. Mac

    That’s so cool–thank you! My compliments to your Aunt Vi.
    I see that the video in this post has since been removed. So here’s one that works as of right now:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5c_XZaArH4
    It’s a real day-brightener.

    Reply

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