Louis Armstrong: Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932) | Early Music Video Starring Satchmo

Rhapsody in Black and Blue is a short ten-minute film that was created and released in 1932, starring Sidney Easton and Fanny Belle DeKnight. It is an early example of a "music video", showcasing the tunes I’ll Be Glad When You Are Dead You Rascal You and Shine, sung and played by well-known jazz artist Louis Armstrong. The film was directed by Aubrey Scotto and the screenplay written by Phil Cohan.
The racism in this film was appalling and offensive to Black America but as stated by Krin Gabbard,
“Joe Glaser [Armstrong’s trusted manager] seized any opportunity to find work for Armstrong, and if Glaser made no effort to ask if the movies were good for the Negro people, neither did Armstrong”.
In the book Jammin’ at the Margins, Krin Gabbard quotes Miles Davis saying in his autobiography,
"...some of the images of black people that I would fight against all through my career. I loved Satchmo, but I couldn’t stand all that grinning he did”.
Phil Cohan tried to portray Armstrong's role in the film as degrading, but instead Louis decided to embrace his role, and he played his trumpet and sang just as he would any other night with power and authority owning every word he sang. - wikipedia
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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[@edwinphillips2298]

Back in July of 1971 I was given tickets for the Blossom Music Center, just outside of Cleveland Ohio, to see Ella Fitzgerald. I fully expected the event to be canceled because “Louis” had just died and the funeral was the next day. But no, the show must go on! Ella sang for about twenty minutes and then left the stage, not to return! The packed house started to applaud and would not leave, just kept applauding, until Ella came back out! She then shook hands with everyone there, with a waterfall of tears streaming down her face. She then sang Louis Armstrong songs, way past curfew for Blossom. It was one of the saddest and most cherished moments of my 80 year life, and one that will never be forgotten by anyone there!

[@martintanksley3561]

Put HER and Billie Holiday (with the GOAT in between) and you the 3 greatest jazz singers of all time......

[@treywest268]

So touching and so beautiful! They were both truly great!!! So sad that so many don't have any knowledge of them now.

[@darthdonkulous1810]

That sounds like it would have been genuinely wonderful. Lucky man!

[@ceejaf1]

Incredible. Thank you for sharing this ~ I love asking my grandmother about growing up and this reminds me of her stories of her sister hitching a ride to California with Sam Cooke. She’s 89 years old. ❤

[@davewallace8219]

Man...I wish iddah been there...

[@TheHeater90]

"Louis Armstrong was the greatest. There's no way you can get around that fact, I don't care how you try." - Cab Calloway

[@krabkrabby]

What an incredible talented man! 30s had great artists!! 👏👏👏 It's impressive!

[@JimPigProductions]

So glad this film exists, it’s a masterpiece !

[@JohnNdiritu-rx9dr]

I don't adastd you 👁️👁️🇰🇪🖤👀🐒🦥🦧🐌🦕

Oh my god. That was beautiful. I'd love to see more. So sad that they didn't produce that many of these shorts back then :( these artists deserved so many more film appearances

[@dingolaystar3873]

I visited Congo Square this past April. I stood at Louis Armstrong's statue and at the Congo Square sculptiure and had a spiritual moment. I just got full and had to give God the praise. I had a vision of the streams of American music coming up out of the Delta, starting with the Spirituals and then the Blues and continuing in NOLA with the Jazz , then on to Mississippi with Rock and Roll, and the rest. All music created by our mighty people--Africans in America. Thanks for posting!

Is there still something for jazz fans in the Congo Square?

[@howardadamsky2417]

Far beyond talent. Something else. From about 4:40 on, he does some amazing things with his horn.

[@jimiray1969.]

In 1980, when I was 10 and started playing trumpet this soundtrack was on an album called Louis Armstrong in the 30's. I almost wore that record out. I trained my ear to this, learned every note, and worked on my tone and high notes to this. My lead solos in jazz band were all some form of this song and did well. Then I heard Hendrix 2 years later and that was that🤣

[@sandramorris420]

Louis Daniel”$atchmo”Armstrong (Pops) Ttumpet and Cornet player grew up in my hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana.I enjoy listening to his music!!!!

[@martintanksley3561]

he's the GOAT!

[@koitorob]

I don't think i've ever seen him look so young!

[@mabel8179]

He looked rather buff and handsome!

[@saltydawg7078]

Many thanks for sharing this gem!

[@liljohnreplogle]

Thank you for posting in such great quality!!! Louis Armstrong is the master of music and trumpet! 😎😊🏆🥇🎺 Thank you!

[@jimmyyu2184]

I'd recognize that big smile anywhere!! Bless you, thank you for your contributions and may your music live forever.

[@mochawitch]

I *love* Pops! He was amazing - despite the fact that whomever made this film was attempting to portray Black people in such a dismal light, his artistry and winning personality shine through ! Thank you soooo much for this👌🏾❤❤😍

[@racyo8755]

mochawitch I thought the same thing about the direction. But the music is awesome

[@mochawitch]

@@racyo8755 oh yes the music... he was a genius❤❤❤

[@parker1251]

Can I get your opinion on something? I'm a music teacher at a school in China. Do I show the students this video? It's the best music by the master musician logos Armstrong and his top-flight musicians. But they're portrayed as savages. To show or not to show.

[@sakanafish3734]

It’s called slap stick comedy! If you want to argue that then blame the artists who wrote this song-who was black. Or better yet blame the artist who are performing the song-also black! If you’re trying to make it about race, then don’t. The biggest form of comedy back then was slap stick-pain-and the body-making funny faces or being silly. Why do liberals always try to ruin EVERYTHING? This video is gold and clean fun! I’m so glad most Whites and Mexicans and Asians are like you-always looking for ways to get offended about their race. You don’t see Whites saying that the maker of The 3 Stooges is trying to portay Whites in a dismal way-or Charlie Chaplain was trying to portray Whites in a dismal way. Get over your stupid paranoia and enjoy the damn film. The makers, actors, and staff of this short film were just trying to share Jazz and make people laugh. Get over yourself, because I am 100% sure if you found out they decided to make this a movie about a Mexican or White couple instead of a Black one then you’d be ready to Black Block Holly Wood and scream, “Now! Why didn’t they have more black people in these movies!? Always screwing my people over!”

[@martintanksley3561]

@@mochawitch of course...he's the GOAT....

[@nickeyparadise1]

He loved to end phrases with a major 6th

[@bradstewart7007]

The man literally invented swing, the biggest contribution to music of the century.

[@martintanksley3561]

Even BEFORE Benny Goodman: the GOAT proabably did it AFTER being released from the Wiaf's in 1914....THE REAL king of swing!!!!

[@travis5732]

He and Charlie Parker practically made the jazz, jazz.

[@RobertSaxy]

Guys he was the worlds first pop star this music was the pop of the day

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@RobertSaxy...we know, I did my graduation thesis on Jazz, the only original American musical art form.

[@savaughiefrench9901]

Wow. This just made my day.

[@sakanafish3734]

It’s platinum! Good clean fun!

Same

[@tamaraharris937]

Louis Armstrong was so talented! I love his music.

[@caponetone5685]

Louis Armstrong was born in raised in Jane Alley. Which is now the Police Headquarters & Orleans Parish Prison. New Orleans Louisiana. My hometown. Satchmo a musical Legend.

[@65ANDRE]

He and President Barrack Obama she the same birthday August 4.

[@louise_rose]

"He was born on the location of what is now the Town Jail" - oh the irony! :) But the man's a legend of course. :)

[@martintanksley3561]

@@65ANDRE He might been born EARLIER (found out MY grandfather was OLDER: Black birth records was INACCURATE back then): doesn't matter: he's The GOAT.....

[@arpad9]

I always thought the grinning was demeaning but this video, in his case, changed my mind. I think he owns and expresses his joy for life, in spite of all of the awful racial dynamics.

[@rosalindhampton24]

🕊️⚜️🎺RIP LOUIS ARMSTRONG🎺⚜️🕊️

[@mabel8179]

The line about his wife and calling the "hot" man a dog was so funny! I love Louis' sense of humour and his laugh.

[@sandramorris420]

Typo,meant to say one of the best trumpet players and entertainers among others,Louis Daniel(Satchmo) Pops Armstrong!!!

[@Sergej_Dudov]

Луи такой позитивный - сердце радуется, когда смотришь.

[@michealridenoour5320]

Thank you reelblack, I've only ever seen bits and pieces of this film. Seeing it all together it finally makes sense! Thanks for the great work and effort to preserve history! Much appreciated!

[@sakanafish3734]

Great post! Thanks for this upload! I come back to find this video every now and again, but it wasn’t easy finding a good and full version if this film!

[@ginabonina6427]

I would love to see this colorized - what a fantastic set with the bubbles!

[@gailjackson8187]

Hi Mike.! Thank You 🤗

[@JamelShelton]

Louis is one of my all time favorites 💯‼️

[@vivianlang5269]

GREAT💕💯

[@mabel8179]

I wanna be in jazz mania with glittery bubbles and the great King Louis playing the trumpet!

[@windycitykitty]

How is it that I never noticed that Louis Prima's vocal style was based so much on Louis Armstrong - - Your Rascal You illustrates this. Thanks for the great upload.

[@patmauney5728]

The ONE and ONLY...There will NEVER be another

[@JannetteRoadsStevens]

Louis beautiful arms when he was young...wow..

[@user-lh3ur1if7r]

You were a perfect singer 😍

[@SDyal]

Can I get a lot more of Mr Armstrong he is the best thank you

[@KymelieLeonard-wb6bw]

Love thesee

[@martintanksley3561]

Digged how he pointed his middle finger in the beginning of 'Shine", knowing he hated doing this, but made this a unforgettable short video....

[@soilmanted]

Not sure what you mean. Not sure what SatcheMo said, either, "something something _me"_ and he pointed his middle finger at his chest on the word _me._ Why would he hate doing that, and how did doing that make this an unforgettable short video? I agree it was an unforgettable video. Clever, full of wit, and fun, and SactheMo's trumpet playing was absolutely out of this world. It was something from "beyond," or beyond beyond, as was the whole video.

[@kevinnorman2937]

Nice to see Fannie Belle de Night playing the wife (You can't mistake THAT VOICE). She also appeared in 1929 M-G-M Hallelujah. (1st All Negro Talkie for M-G-M).

[@AozoraUltra2006]

Louis would have killed in hip hop

[@gtripmusic2906]

Especially with those vocal growls

[@canadianinvestor7127]

Satchmo sounded like a damn maniac in this but still amazing. Talent like that literally doesn't exist anymore

[@Tunainthebrine79]

More talent in his finger.....

[@mspelleri]

That was very interesting. The "drum major" costume of the king is similar to the costuming of heaven and hell characters from Cabin in the Sky. I wonder if those clothes have any cultural meaning from the era?

[@aarondigby7144]

The good ol days when you just roasted peanuts and spin records on the phonograph, no tv just radios i remember the last vestiges of this bygone era, i remember when the tv brought the visuals

[@2dasimmons]

I hope Reelblack will post the HELLZAPOPPIN SWING DANCE SCENE WITH SLIM AND SLAM STEWART. This is best lindy hop/swing dance scene EVER. Rex Stewart from Duke Ellington's orchestra and some other fine musicians as well as dancers make this a great scene from movie Hellzapoppin a white movie but this one scene of Swing Dancing is ALL BLACK😍

[@reelblack]

Will try. I need Charles to do a mini lecture so we can try to argue fair use. I know other channels have posted it, but Comcast/NBC tends to block their footage rather than demonitize. Hellzapopin was a Universal release.

[@2dasimmons]

@@reelblack Thanks for your response.Yah/God bless you all😍 Keep up the great work. Btw iconic pioneer and trumpet virtuoso Louis Armstring knew he was Hebrew and talked about it a lot but was harshly advised by entertainment industry not to😞 Some folk resent TRUTH😔 Shalom Reelblack😍

[@Sneakycat1971]

Back in the day of less distraction when musicians had nothing better to do than perfect their craft. In my opinion , while there were still many great musicians in the 70's this is the decade where the decline in talent and originality began.

[@BRAVENEWORDERFILMS]

Agree. 1000 percent. Today's music is horrible with terrible lyrical composition and with total lack of originality. Ever notice how much is literally "inspired" from older songs? The Industry Plant is also a common occurrence now but nobody cares anymore...😑

[@dman221]

Jock James : What the 70’s...more like the late 90’s where the decline started. We had Great Group R & B Groups and well as Jazz, and Soul Music.

[@SliceySlicer]

Minecraft?

You still can find good artists from the 70s on, they're just not on the mainstream

[@0000song0000]

@ You're totally right. As a musician, I have come to notice that 80% or more of people see music as they see "chairs" or "tables", as something they use but they dont give much thought about. And the industry turned into an "Ikea" just producing and selling AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, not really caring about musical language.... So why produce records with actual musicians who try to perfect their craft, with decades of study and experience, when you can have one person with a MIDI roll and VSTs "create" something diatonic in less than an hour, and that will sell / get played billions of times by that 80%+ that use music as they use toilet paper. 🤷🏻

[@wjsjallday]

What made his voice so raspy at a young age?

[@mrkjsmooth16]

D L S cigarettes

[@stratmanjoe]

Cigs and whisky.... Rest In Peace, Satchmoe.....!

[@TheHeater90]

His voice isn't really raspy, it's more gravelly. And in his case, it isn't from smoking, it was just his natural voice. It was just as gravelly when he first started putting his voice on record at age 24. He's still only 31 here.

[@martintanksley3561]

He had some growths/infection in his throat from as a young teen

[@hughbeattie1115]

life

[@livefromplanetearth]

🙏🏾

[@heathertea2704]

Their acting CHOPS shewn through THIS DISASTER SCRIPT.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Wow! What a talented man. You bought my wife a coca cola so you could play on her vajola?

[@reelblack]

“Victrola” but yes. The innuendo is clear.

[@joypopoola6115]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Heat3YT2]

Vajola...hahaha. 🤣 victrola is an old school record player. But he meant what you were thinking.

[@johnsolis7631]

The greatest that ever was.

[@vdjalimusic]

Great Shot Film (like by M.J.)!!!

[@albertopollaro8374]

Grande!

[@sherrynoel1]

Cool great satchamo

[@ApplyUrBrain]

OMG!

[@skaterm100]

🤩🤩

[@criscoli2868]

♥

[@charlesc.b2435]

THE MINSTREL SHOW....I can't believe my people were subjected to this BS, the most talented people in the world had to buckdance to display there GIFTS!!

[@aarondigby7144]

This all happened during the Harlem RENAISSANCE ,the most iconic cultural music transformation in US history, and you call it buck dancing ,,this is some of the greatest to ever do it, the musicians, the band playing this is without a doubt THE BEST

[@martintanksley3561]

just like the MANY videos I see today on MTV as well.....

[@Heat3YT2]

So much positivity in this short film and that is all you take out? Music. Comedy. Legendary performers. Aside from the “african tribe” inspired leopard skin outfits in the dream sequence, there is very little to be offended at in this film. Imagine it being the height of the Great Depression. Having no job. Your wife nagging you about the little bit of enjoyment you get out of music. She conks you on the head and sends you to never never land where you dream you are a king and your favorite artist performa for you. Anyone of that time and of today should be able to relate to it.

[@joshuahandfinger9154]

Genius

[@arthurkyriazis]

The incredible talent soars over the somewhat racist context. These guys cook.

[@JomoDaMusicMan]

New Orleans with Satchmo, Fats Domino, and King Solomon Burke and the their queen Irma Thomas

[@user-lh3ur1if7r]

זה מושלם 😆😍

[@jgrm4443]

What was that? I almost didn't recognize my main man "Satchmo".

[@SchizoMelody]

Is this available on Paramount+?

[@SchizoMelody]

"You bought my wife a Coca-Cola so you could play on her Victrola!"

[@JamelShelton]

🗣 POPS 💯‼️

[@user-lh3ur1if7r]

انت كويس. 😍

[@JannetteRoadsStevens]

haha i still do this in my kitchen , by myself...hahaha im 63..

[@paulgeorge7347]

is the guitarist playing a resonator tenor guitar?

[@larrygod7616]

La vie en rose.

[@nolaboyteroylee9794]

#SatchmoOfTheGhetto🚬😁🎺🎶🎭🌎

[@betsykorbinyr330]

He was magnificent. I am sad that he had to deal with the subtle and overt racism of this film. Just to be able to have a chance to get filmed.

[@gingerbaker4390]

Louis Armstrong got his first break playing in mafia owned nightspots. They didn't discriminate, They just liked to be entertained. Through their connections in the entertainment industry he went onto to become famous. .

[@aarondigby7144]

Victrola record player

[@EuSeiT]

He looked so much like Cuba Goodwin Jr.!

[@bridgetgregory3876]

He looks so much like Tracy Morgan as well.

[@thompsonandrade5839]

04:38 lol lol lol lol

[@chriscaswell1212]

They were all stoned out of their damn minds lol ;)

[@Atl8720]

33

[@katyarnold6757]

A ear for music and mouth for porkchop LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You better get a desire for work. Isn't that the truth. This movie is so funny!! especially the first man wife that hit him with a mop that was funny!!!

[@aarondigby7144]

Coca cola was a nickel, victrola record players

[@trosclairerich7529]

a husbaand that raher liste to jazz and drumon pots and pans than mop the floor and is whackedover the head with a mop by his wife he falls in to a dream which is the king of jazzmania... the movie was made to ease the mind of the people during the great depression in 1932.. LOUIS ARMSTRING WAS IN HIS LATE 20,S WHEN HE APPEAR IN THIS MOVIE

[@goldraceformerlyknownasbla474]

Our new and innovative race is now active, Gold Race formally known as black people. Control your thoughts. Nothing can be said or done to change what is about to happen. Great vibes family peace.

[@hughbeattie1115]

& a nose for pork chops.....

[@martintanksley3561]

Storyline is pure B.S, and that is NOT Louis acting who is being belittled by his wife (she played on that 1929 film Hallejuah)...Louis had star quality that wasn't limited to the records

[@stairway-steeltalkironresp7595]

When we wuz Kangs!! and great musicians! : )

[@lukedavidknowles9946]

This racism seems ironic to me.

[@jongilbert5327]

I thought I was the only to notice

[@noneyabuiznezz]

Thrash metal of the 30s

[@docantic1527]

This film is a wonderful example of the talent of Louis Armstrong. But why judge this film and these wonderful artists with today's criteria? This film was made by black people, with black artists, for a predominantly black audience. It was a "Race Moovie". It was only screened in black-only movie theaters. To make a film like this today would be deeply racist. At that time he was not.

[@stratmanjoe]

I see Pops for his greatness, not for the color of his skin. Why does the “race card” have to be played ? That has nothing to do with this talented giant of a man. He was a legend then and still is now. Rest In Peace Satch!

[@afrotrooptv]

IT WOULD BE REMARKABLE IF YOU DID NOT ACTUALLY BELIEVE ALL THAT KKK RHETORIC YOU SPOUT.

[@KelzKelz]

Wtf is a race card?

[@stratmanjoe]

@@KelzKelz you’ll figure it out……..lol ✌🏻😎

[@kevinnorman2937]

Although thiis film is racist today's generations is too P.C Ethnic humor wad very popular during this time. All races was depicted (unless you was Free, White & 21) in a negative light. IT WAS WRONG THEN AND IT WRONG NOW!! BUT in order to appear in movies that is what studios offers because of the Production Codes. plus Studios had to worry about Southern States who doesn't support integration with other races. These movies sometimes wasn't EVEN SHOWN. SO to the younger generation look at this with different eyes because times was different.

[@trailhitter818]

Horrible