[Harp-L] movie review

[Michael Rubin]

Thanks everyone I just listened to it.  A great player!
Michael Rubin
michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 12:18 AM, Wilbur Euler <dubyail at xxxxx>
wrote:

> I found the Suite for the Little Fugitive  on iTunes it's under Eddy
> Manson.
> Regards, Wil
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Feb 22, 2017, at 1:49 PM, Mick Zaklan <mzaklan at xxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >   Noticed my cable TV provider was offering "The Little Fugitive" as a
> > free movie (Turner Classic Movies), so I punched it up on the remote last
> > week.  Harmonica aficionados know the film for its musical soundtrack
> > consisting entirely of solo chromatic harmonica.  In fact, there could be
> > more harmonica in this motion picture than spoken dialogue!
> >   Now normally I wouldn't want to sit through 90 minutes of a frightened
> 7
> > year-old lost in Coney Island amusement park.  The budget for this 1953
> > movie was so minimal that they couldn't afford microphones or a sound
> > crew.  The film was shot with non-actors and every piece of dialogue,
> sound
> > effects, and harmonica was dubbed in later.
> >   But two things held my attention.  First off, the thing looked like
> > someone had given the brilliant street photographer Vivian Maier a motion
> > picture camera and turned her loose in 1950's New York City.  Secondly,
> the
> > Eddie Manson chromatic playing was spot-on in supporting the action being
> > shown and occasionally virtuosic in technique.  Most of these tiny
> > compositions were written by Eddie; probably off the chromatic
> > harmonica and played in a style you don't hear much of these days.  Lots
> of
> > rhythmic chording, lever embellishments, hand cupping, and thick vibrato.
> > The tones and colors Mr. Manson coaxed out of his instrument were, well,
> > gorgeous.  And some of the compositions made me think Eddie could have
> > penned a nice, extended piece if he had wanted.  Maybe he did and I don't
> > know about it.
> >   Historically, the film was nominated for an Oscar (Best Story) and is
> > cited by the legendary director Francois Truffaut as an inspiration for
> the
> > slew of low budget, self-financed art films know as the French New Wave.
> > Which in turn influenced a new group of American film directors.
> >   In short, a prestigious thing to have your name attached to.  Part of
> > Eddie's harmonica legacy to the rest of us.  If you get an opportunity;
> > give the movie a view and listen, even if only for a few minutes.
> > Especially if the chromatic harmonica is your main squeeze.  Mr. Manson
> is
> > largely forgotten today; overshadowed by names like Larry Adler, Blackie
> > Schackner, Tommy Reilly, and Tommy Morgan.  But he was a very impressive
> > player and I think his long-ago SPAH performance is still out there on
> > YouTube somewhere.
> >
> > Mick Zaklan
>