Musical Interlude: Солдатушки

You know what we haven't had around here in a long time (besides much of anything)? Why, a musical interlude. Let us rectify this situation in style, with a Russian marching tune that dates back to the days of the Napoleonic Wars.

Busby Berkeley alla Cockroach

You Won't Understand a Single Thing He Says...

...but you will somehow be persuaded that the Ultimate Warrior is speaking the truth.

Also fun: the next time you watch a silent movie, imagine all the intertitles being read in this voice. Buster Keaton will suddenly be a lot more terrifying.

Have You Got Any Castles? (1938)

Here's another one of those cartoons that I must have watched countless times when I was a kid. I'm willing to bet that you saw it a few times, too. As is to be expected from a cartoon of this era, celebrity caricatures abound in Have you Got Any Castles? -- no doubt you'll be able to spot Clark Gable, William Powell and Cab Calloway, among others. The highlight of the cartoon, though, might be its extremely memorable, swing-laden soundtrack. Do give this one a watch.

Okay...

This is just fucking cool.

A Short Message.

I'm willing to bet most of you have seen this, but just in case you haven't:

How to Spend a Foggy Day

The fog that inspired the last post was back with a vengeance this morning. I had to go work, but what I really wanted to do was this:

In retrospect, I find it hard to believe that it's taken me so long to post this little treasure.

Musical Interlude: A Bit of the Old Ludwig Van

Perhaps thirty minutes might be pushing the boundaries of what constitutes an interlude, but here is one of those happy instances where quantity and quality go hand in hand. Although not as renowned as his fifth or ninth symphonies, Ludwig Van Beethoven's seventh symphony is no less of a masterpiece. Add to this potent formula the fact that the piece is here performed by the great Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, and you might just have what one commenter called the best video on youtube. If you have half an hour to kill, give this great piece of music a listen (or put in on in the background while you read a book or fold laundry or whatever it is you do).

An Interview With Anita Page

From the distant past of 1993, here is an interview in three parts with Anita Page conducted by interviewer Skip E. Lowe (who seems like a native son of Fabulon, if you know what I mean). For a woman of eighty-three years, Anita still seems as sharp as the proverbial tack here. Particularly entertaining is the bit about starring alongside Joan Crawford. Also, I was especially overjoyed that she name-drops Dorothy Sebastian (I almost jumped through the ceiling out of sheer delight!).

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

It really is hard to believe that it was only last year that Anita Page finally gave up the ghost. A special thanks to YouTube user Aaron1912 for posting this interview.

Musical Interlude: The Cossack Ride Over the Don

This is a fantastic song. Just give it a listen, and you'll wish you were a Cossack.

Musical Interlude: Dovator's Cossack Song

"Dovator's Cossack Song" celebrates the heroism of General Lev Mikhailovich Dovator and the men of his 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, many of whom died in the defense of Moscow (as did General Dovator himself).

The lyrics:

Сквозь леса дремучие, с песнею весёлою,
С острыми клинками, на лихих конях,
Движутся кубанцы, казаки-гвардейцы,
Чтоб с врагом расправиться доблестно в боях.

Chorus:
Эх, бей, кубанцы!
Руби, гвардейцы!
Рази фашистов подлых, пощады не давай!
На победу славную, на защиту Родины
Нас водил Доватор, любимый генерал.

С именем Доватора, полководца смелого,
Грозною лавиной на врага мы шли.
Где прошли доваторцы - казаки кубанские,
Гитлеровцев полчища смерть себе нашли!

(Chorus)

Славными победами мы свой путь отметили,
Били мы фашистов, бьем и будем бить:
Пушками, гранатами, миной, автоматами,
Резать пулеметами и клинком рубить!

(Chorus)

Mickey's Gala Premiere (1933)

Mickey's Gala Premiere is one of those animated shorts that is probably more interesting as an artifact of Hollywood history than it is as a cartoon. The whole plot of the short revolves around a premiere of the latest Mickey Mouse cartoon. Apparently Mickey's premiere is the social event of the season, since a virtual who's-who of the film stars of the day turn out to watch the antics of everyone's favorite corporate mascot (even Will Hays himself makes an appearance!). Old movie junkies will probably enjoy this one quite a lot, as it offers a great opportunity to spot their favorite stars in cartoon form.

Personally, I like this cartoon because it's probably the only time that Joan Crawford and Eddie Cantor ever appeared in a film together. Now there's a pairing I'd like to see. They're even sitting next to each other in the audience, for Pete's sake.

By the way, if someone could tell me who the fellow taking tickets about two minutes into the cartoon, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've seen him caricatured in many classic cartoons, but I have no idea who he's supposed to be.

Musical Interlude: Любо братцы , любо

This is one of those songs that I like to sing at odd moments (or at least try to sing, given the linguistic difficulties).

Как на грозный Терек выгнали казаки,
Выгнали казаки сорок тысяч лошадей.
И покрылось поле, и покрылся берег
Сотнями порубаных, постреляных людей.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!

Атаман наш знает, кого выбирает-
Эскадрон по коням, да забыли про меня.
Им досталась воля да казачья доля,
Мне ж досталась пыльная, горючая земля.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!

А первая пуля, а первая пуля,
А первая пуля в ногу ранила коня.
А вторая пуля, а вторая пуля,
А вторая пуля в сердце ранила меня.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!

Жинка погорюет, выйдет за другого,
За мово товарища, забудет про меня.
Жалко только волю во широком поле,
Жалко мать-старушку да буланого коня.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!

Будет дождь холодный, будет дождь холодный,
Будет дождь холодный мои кости обмывать.
Будет ворон чёрный, будет ворон чёрный,
Будет ворон чёрный мои волосы клевать.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!

Как на вольный Терек, как на грозный Терек
Выгнали казаки сорок тысяч лошадей.
И покрылось поле, и покрылся берег
Сотнями порубаных, постреляных людей.

Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом не приходится тужить!
Любо, братцы, любо,
Любо, братцы, жить!
С нашим атаманом любо голову сложить!

And if it seems that these musical interludes seem to have a decidedly Russian flavor... well, they have.

Musical Interlude - Мы смело в бой пойдём

A little context is necessary for this video. It shows footage of the leaders and soldiers of the White Movement in Russia (i.e. the various forces who opposed the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War, albeit in vain). I'd provide a little more background information about the song itself, but unfortunately I don't know much about it, other than the fact that the title translates to "We Boldly Go to War". Enjoy...

Musical Interlude: Марш Преображенского полка

I apologize for the paucity of posts in the past month or so. Things are not all sunshine and roses out here in Sigmaville, and thus I've been a bit distracted. Of course I know that my personal life is of interest to absolutely nobody, and so I'll leave it at that. Let us turn now to more interesting matters:

The above video features four songs, the latter three being renditions of the marching song of the Preobrazhensky Lifeguard regiment (it also features a nice pictorial overview of Russian military history, besides!). The Preobrazhensky Regiment was established by Peter the Great around 1687, and was among the most renowned units in the Imperial Russian Army. The regiment itself was disbanded in 1917, following the events of the Russian Revolution, but the unit's march has remained a staple of the Russian army.

The first song heard in the video is a choral arrangement of a passage from Tchaikovsky's famous 1812 Overture. It's not unpleasant, but it's not the reason we're here today. The first version of the Preobrazhensky March we hear is a slower, more regal treatment of the song. The second is an a Capella rendition of the march (perhaps my favorite rendition of the three on display in the video). Finally, the third rendition of the march is an uptempo version of the march, quite suitable for a parade (as an aside, I'm fairly certain this particular version appeared on the soundtrack for the game East Front II).

As a final curiosity, here are the lyrics to the song (in Russian, naturally):

Знают турки нас и шведы
И про нас известен свет
На сраженья, на победы
Нас всегда сам Царь ведет

C нами труд Он разделяет
Перед нами Он в боях
Счастьем всяк из нас считает
Умереть в Его глазах

Славны были наши деды
Помнит их и швед, и лях
И парил орел победы
На Полтавских на полях

Знамя он полка пленяет
Русский штык наш боевой
Он и нам напоминает,
Как ходили деды в бой.

Гордо штык четырехгранный
Голос чести не замолк
Так пойдем вперед мы славно
Грудью первый русский полк

Государям по присяге
Верным полк наш был всегда
В поле брани не робея
Грудью служит он всегда

Преображенцы удалые
Рады тешить мы царя
И потешные былые
Славны будут век,
УРА!

Musical Interlude: Song of the Volga Boatmen

I've had this song stuck in my head the past few days (I had a lot of things stuck in my head the past few days, actually; this just happens to be among the least depressing of them). Here's the A. V. Alexandrov Russian Army Twice Red-bannered Academic Song and Dance Ensemble (more comfortably known as the Alexandrov Ensemble or the Red Army Choir) performing an excellent rendition of a classic Russian folk song. Be sure to watch it high quality for maximum effect.

Season's Greetings

Here's a friendly Christmas Carol from the good folks over at the Westboro Baptist Church. At this point, these people aren't even offensive any more; in all honesty, they're starting to seem like a caricature of themselves. Do they honestly expect me to believe that Santa Claus (who nobody over the age of ten believes is real) will rape children? On the other hand, they are right about the Christmas Tree being a pagan idol, so I suppose nothing is impossible.

Finding his Voice (1929)

Here's a somewhat obscure (but still quite interesting) animated short from 1929. Finding his Voice is the saga of Talkie and Mutie, a pair of anthropomorphous rolls of film. As you might have guessed from their names, Talkie is a talking picture, and Mutie is a silent picture. Mutie wants to know how Talkie got his voice. Talkie explains that a certain Dr. Western (who is, by the by, a thinly-veiled metaphor for Western Electric, who commissioned the film) gave him his voice, and takes Mutie to see the good doctor.

Finding his Voice is interesting for several reasons. First and foremost, it offers the viewer a glance into the technical niceties of the Western Electric sound-on-film process, which was widely used by the Fox Films Corporation in the late 20s and 30s (mind you that this is long before Rupert Murdoch took over and Fox became the mouthpiece of the Antichrist). The sound-on-film process, by the look of it, was downright Byzantine in its intricacy and obsolescence, and--from what I understand--allowed for a somewhat inferior sound quality to the Vitaphone process used by Warner Brothers (it is ironic that the sound in Finding his Voice was apparently recorded via the Vitaphone process).

From a less technical perspective, Finding his Voice also merits attention by virtue of its being one of Max Fleischer's earliest post-Disney efforts, antedating Betty Boop even in her earliest, canine form by about a year or so.

One final detail--the tune which plays at the beginning of the film is, appropriately enough, "Ever Since the Movies Learned to Talk". A bit more information about the song (and even a recording of the song itself!) can be found at Vitaphone Varieties.

A Skateboarding Parakeet

I seem to be at a loss for interesting things to say at the moment (some would say I've been at a loss for interesting things to say for a little more than a year or so). Here's some mind numbing cuteness to fill the void. ...I like parakeets.

Bringing Sexy Back

Because contemporary fashions are excessively boring, slutty or some combination of both, here's a glimpse of some respectable sexiness from 1927. In color, no less! Laura La Plante wins the "Hat of the Year" award.