Walking on Air is a British musical film[1] featuring jazz, songs, dance, tap dance, and variety comedy routines including several performances by African American performers. Starring performers include Johnny Worthy, Bertie Jarrett, Sonny Thomas, Ray Ellington, The Skating Avalons, singer Jill Allen singing "Honeysuckle Rose", Maudie Edwards, Myrette Moreven, Miki Hood, Jasmine Dee, Loderick Caton, Coleridge Goode, and Freddie Crump on drums. The Huntley Film Archives have extended clips from the film. Aveling Ginever directed.[2] Ginever, Johnny Worth and Val Guest wrote the screenplay.[2][3]
An obituary for Peter Noble describes the film as having been virtually unseen. It debuted Susan Shaw, then known as Patsy Sloots.[4]
The film was made at Marylebone Studios in London.[5]
The film was described as having plenty of dancing but a thin storyline about an aspiring ballerina who is working in a variety show at a night club.[6]
History edit
In 1942 Jarrett was on BBC radio with Maurice Winnick's orchestra.[7] In 1944 Jarrett and Worthly appeared in a variety show.[8]
Songs edit
Songs in the film include:
- "Carolina"
- "St Louis Blues"
- "Walking on Air" by Johnny Worthy
- "Honeysuckle Rose"
- "I Just Don't Know How to Swing" by Peter Noble (songwriter)
- "Harlem jamboree" by Johnny Worthy
- "Basin Street blues" by Spencer Williams[9]
Cast edit
Mr Austin played by Ray Ellington
References edit
- ^ Gifford, Denis (April 1, 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Walking on Air (1946)". BFI. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019.
- ^ III, Harris M. Lentz (October 24, 2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2006: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786452118 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Obituary: Peter Noble". The Independent. August 29, 1997.
- ^ Maxford, Howard (November 2, 2018). Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company. McFarland. ISBN 9781476629148 – via Google Books.
- ^ Jay Robert Nash; Stanley Ralph Ross (1987). The Motion Picture Guide. Cinebooks. ISBN 978-0-933997-09-7.
- ^ "Schedule - BBC Programme Index".
- ^ "Variety Show featuring "The Dorchester Follies" – Hippodrome Heritage".
- ^ "WALKING ON AIR". Library of Congress.