“When we finished filming High Society, Bing gave me a golden money clip inscribed ‘To Louie from Bing.’ And when he had a baby girl I sent him a telegram, ‘Now you have jazz.” – Louis Armstrong
Excessive Society was a remake of the favored 1940 romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story, tailored from Philip Barry’s stage play of the identical title. The 1940 movie starred Cary Grant, and within the new model the position was taken over by Bing Crosby. Katharine Hepburn preceded Grace Kelly as the feminine lead and Frank Sinatra took the half that had gained James Stewart an Oscar. Grace Kelly’s marriage ceremony plans referred to as for a decent schedule and so filming started on January 17, 1956, and completed in early March.
Louis and Bing have been in MGM’s studio recording on January 6. “Now You Has Jazz” that Louis and Bing recorded that day and featured within the movie. “Now You Has Jazz” made the US singles chart on October 13, 1956, coming into the charts at No. 94 and peaking at No. 88 throughout its four-week run.
Pops seems as a form of narrator, his efficiency being amongst the very best within the movie. Whereas most take into account the performing within the unique to be approach higher, the remake achieved robust gross sales on the field workplace. Excessive Society is completely different from many movie musicals of the period in that there aren’t any large manufacturing music and dance numbers. The musical interludes are low-key, complementing quite than punctuating the film.
Within the midst of filming Excessive Society, Louis and the band gave a sold-out live performance at Pasadena’s Civic Auditorium earlier than going again within the studio recording for Columbia, in addition to extra live shows from Grand Rapids Michigan to New York Metropolis on a tour with Woody Herman’s Orchestra. Louis’s stamina was wonderful. As if to show conclusively that he was probably the most hardworking man in American music, Satchmo flew to Australia in early April to play live shows and seem on tv earlier than flying to London to start out his first tour of Britain in 23 years.
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