Django on Film

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Many documentary on french jazz, Grapelli, Django, Gibson guitar and others feature clips from this movies.

Jazz Hot
J'Attendrai - 1938
 
 
 
 

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Jazz Hot (Great Britain / 1938 / 6')
The legend has it that Django Reinhardt was never filmed with synchronized
sound and picture (only a few silent images could be seen very quickly in the newsreels…)

This film, unknown to the historians, is a great event : we can see Django
Reinhardt, the master of the guitar, playing in his intimacy or on stage, with
Stéphane Grappelli and other musicians during the top level period of the
Hot Club de France Quintet, around 1938.


In 1983 I had the opportunity to see a section of this movie on France TV.

• It is described in Volume 8 of Frémaux & Associés (Intégrale Django Reinhardt).

• Exact context of this movie is unknown. It could have been filmed as a promotional movie for an upcoming QHCF UK tour.
• The bass player is unknown.
• According to Charles Delaunay there was 2 other songs in this movie.

• An home movie filmed by Harry Volpe (american guitar player).
• Filmed ni New-York while Django was there (as part of the Duke Ellington tour)
• Rumors spread around that the movie was not available (destroyed ?, lost ?), but I doubt it...
• I've read somewhere that the movies shows Harry Volpe walking down a street with Django nearby the Henri Hudson hotel.
• There is a scene where you see Django and Harry having spaghettis with friends...
• There is a scene with Django and Harry playing...no sound though
• There is no soundtrack with it (a real home movie of the days...)