When You're Smiling (1930)

The Empire Girls

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1920's
• 1920s
• dance
• flapper
• stage
• charleston
• jazz
• band
• roaring
• twenties
• tap
• age

[formby2]

This is absolutely NOT a fraud. For proof visit the British Pathe webpage and search "Empire Girls Charlie" to find the link to the original.

The lack of the Pathe watermark shows this isn't a free download from Pathe and so the clip has been purchased at some point which explains a much higher res print than we're used to seeing for Pathe clips on YouTube.

Apart from that, I agree totally with muscleco's comment. This is authentic.

Thanks to Aaron1912 for uncovering yet another classic gem.

[muscleco]

Fraud????

In what way?

Notice that even in high-budget films of today, when they try to do a 1920s or 1920s look it is NEVER right. Music. Hair. Faces. CLothes... but this is totally kosher

[pedro1095]

Thanks really enjoyed watching this

I never knew Stan Laurel was a sailor

Sorry but he does look and remind me of Stan

Laurel

[VNNJHV]

their only problem is that they dance like elephants

[paloaltodad]

a right hefty buncha heifers, I'd say.

[danzwoot]

Fand die Berliner Mädels goldiger.

[swallin19]

Definitely original, but the surprise is it was not spotted by researchers for shows like Denis Norden's or Jimmy Perry on TV in the 1980's. There must be other items like this still hidden away, but major archives like Pathe must surely have given up their secrets by now?

[mic33george]

@muscleco I totally agree-the late twenties early thirties style is practically never done correctly now-the hair,clothes,dancing and music on this are just right.

[paulj0557]

@OS253 Yes, these people are so genuine. Their health is a result of a simple diet of real, unprocessed foods, of a healthy concept of self that shows so /naturally!/ in their body language, no over or under inflated egos here. The B&W film also tends to unify this youthful carefree image, but one ingredient that really makes it all come together is that snappy music. The orchestration of popular music in the 1920's and 30's did so much to bring these charming dancers to life. I come to life!

[debro52]

This is a good video. There are several musicals from this time period that have similar dancing in them. One is "Broadway Melody", which won an oscar for best picture. (1928-29) It was MGM's first all talking picture. Thank you Aaron for the work you do.

[bearcub410]

the girls are lovely but i like the sailor better lol thanks