Virginia O'Brian Deadpan jazz singer

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Anybody else find this lady riveting both visually and musicaly?

I just saw one of those WWII
we're gonna put on a camp show for the boys,
and every major star in Hollywood
will just happen to say, yes I'll be there;
movies.

This is the Gene Kelly, "Aerialist" in the army one.

Well Virgina O'Brian does one of her hipper
jazz numbers with June Alison and another fine singer.
But she smokes them totally.

She is SOOOO startling, she is so on
with very hard lines unusal timings,
and real jazzbo inflections.

One of those singers I always wished I could have seen live.

And then that deadpan look
occasionaly broken for solid humorous effect.

And on top she is just gorgous too.

Oh yeah, and Jose Iturbi is awesome on piano,
and conducting well too.
He does some boogie woogie with Judy Garland too.
He almost looks like the Chopin lines are just doodling,
while waiting for Judy's cue to start the song.

Here's Virginia, far from the best pic of her.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 22 September 2006 at 10:20 AM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

You know who I immediately thought of from your description----Keely Smith with Louis Prima. I recently saw a PBS doc. on him and she just killed me---knock-out looks, deadpan humor, heavy swing (although her act with Prima didn't seem like much of an opportunity for her to let loose, but my impression could be wrong based on this one show.)

I'm not familiar with your Virginia O'Brian. I'll keep my eyes/ears open.

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 22 September 2006 at 10:36 AM.]

P Gleespen · From: Toledo, OH USA

Oh yeah! My Brother in law was just asking me about her. He saw her in the Marx Bros "The Big Store" and was trying to find out what else she was in...

Here's a link to an obit:
http://obits.com/obrienvirginia.html

...and Keely Smith is awesome too. Louis Prima's shtick would've gotten old way quicker with out her.

[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 22 September 2006 at 11:07 AM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

MGM musicals can be fine, or annoying
because of some shmaltzy sections,
but also there was always some darned hip
jazz arranging, and fine classical work.

And of course great dancing etc.
Usually to some pretty well done musical backing.

Virginia was both comic relief and serious pre-bop jazz,
clearly the arrangments were done to follow
her startling vocal abilities.

Even with the deadpan act she came across
as a quite likable lady too.

Each time I see her in these old films I wish
that she had MUCH bigger parts.
I did see some of the Harvey Girls this month,
and she was fine in that too.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 23 September 2006 at 10:03 PM.]

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