Name: Mirrors
Genre: Musical, Short
Released: 1934-09-08
Duration: 12 min
Rating: 7.2
Cast: Freddie Rich and His Orchestra, Vera Van, Eton Boys

Oops! I can't believe I'm taking the time and trouble to actually comment about a 12-minute, black and white, musical short from 1934 titled "Mirrors." But I am! Some 60-odd years ago, there was a type of music video put out for general public consumption called "Soundies." Once upon a time, I used to believe that the "Soundie" was the progenitor of the "modern" (the last 20+ years or so) music video. I now know, with "Mirrors" and a few others of its ancestral relatives, that there were music videos which predated even the ancient "Soundies." I know that these earliest of M/V's go back to at least the early 1930s and back, probably, to the late 1920s, approximately coinciding with the introduction of sound into movies. Uncovering one of these rare gems has to be much akin to making a rare archaeological discovery. ("Look at what I have unearthed, Dr. Leakey! It's a Freddie Rich M/V from the Musicalzoa Era!" "Fine digging, Tommy. Allow me to reward your hard and productive work with this rock-solid American dime." "Gee, thanks, Doc." But I digress.)

Anyone who can handle this kind of music -- and I most certainly can! -- is in for two surprise treats should they happen to catch "Mirrors": the great Jimmy Dorsey on clarinet and the equally great, albeit tragically flawed, Bunny Berigan on trumpet. Those two gents -- alone! -- made the expenditure of 12 minutes out of my life to watch this M/V well worthwhile.

Now, let's see. Let me name all the people whom I expect to read these comments on "Mirrors." Me. One friend in California. The IMDb "User Comments" censor. And .......... Which is perfectly fine with me. As long as "EYE" know that this little hidden jewel exists, that is all that really matters. To me.

One last thought. A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Turner Classic Movies for retaining, maintaining and occasionally showing half-buried gems such as "Mirrors." TCM really does an old nostalgia buff's heart good.

"Oops! Look what I have just found, Dr. Leakey!"

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Freddie Rich and His Orchestra perform popular songs and accompany guest performers.

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Mirrors

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