Film Review: Hi-De-Ho (1947)
Jazz singer and bandleader Cab Calloway (Cab Calloway) has a new manager named Nettie (Ida James). His girlfriend Minnie (Jeni Le Gon) becomes insanely jealous, despite the relationship being purely professional. When Nettie lands Cab and his orchestra a gig at the ritzy Brass Hat Club, Minnie hies herself over to a rival nightclub run by mobster Boss Mason (George Wiltshire).
Minnie convinces Boss Mason and his triggerman Mo the Mouse (James Dunmore) to try and lure Cab away from the Brass Hat Club and Nettie, or failing that kill him. Just as the hit is about to go down, Minnie overhears a conversation between Cab and Nettie that reveals the truth of their relationship. But is it too late to prevent tragedy?
This is another “race picture”, filmed with an all-black cast for showing in movie theaters catering to African-American audiences. Even the cops are black! As one might expect from a movie starring Cab Calloway, it’s a musical.
Good: Cab Calloway was a national treasure and backed by some really wonderful jazz musicians and dancers in this film. I’m not too keen on this particular rendition of “St. James Infirmary” but otherwise the musical numbers are excellent.
I also like the running gag of the one character who hangs around Cab all the time reading Variety and making smart remarks, but never takes place in the action and seems to have no actual job he does for Cab.
Less good: The plot, thin to begin with, resolves halfway through the movie, with the romance subplot resolved in a montage sequence no less. The remainder of the film is a long performance by the now world-famous Cab Calloway and his Orchestra in a club…somewhere.
Problematic: Cab is callous towards Minnie, and even slaps her to the floor when she backtalks him. Later, Boss Mason does the same thing, and in both cases we are meant to think she had it coming. Minnie having implied sexual needs is treated as a flaw in her character. Nettie is subjected to a “you’re beautiful without your glasses” scene, though this is done without the dialogue. On the other hand, Nettie is shown to be an effective manager for Cab in his early career.
Some viewers may want to skip straight to the last half of the film for the musical numbers. Parents watching the movie with younger children may want to remind them that slapping around your girlfriend is no longer accepted practice, even if she’s being obnoxious.
Apparently, there’s also an earlier film short titled Cab Calloway’s “Hi-De-Ho” which has a different plot. And here it is!
