Released by Castle Films for the home market as part of the “Music Album” series of 16mm films, this short “Hawaiian Rhythm” presents Hawaiian music beginning with “Aloha Oe”. It dates to 1949, and can be considered a “Soundie” — a 1940s music video. These films were released not only for private use on personal projectors, but some of them were made to be used in a 16mm film jukebox called a Panoram or its more modern equivalent, a Scopitone. In this case, music was performed by Matty Malneck and his Orchestra as part of the soundtrack to the Universal film “Hawaiian Nights”, a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell. Matthew Michael “Matty” Malneck (1903 – 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger whose big band recorded for Brunswick, Columbia, and Decca. Malneck’s group also played in the film St. Louis Blues (1939) and You’re in the Army Now (1941).
The film starts with shots of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, including shots of surfing and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. At :44, “My Lonelineness Has Ended” is sung by Constance Moore, an American singer and actress who had signed with Universal. The segment shows a luau in progress, and includes a rhythm performance starting at about 2:40 and a hula dance at 3:30. At 4:09, “Hawaii Sang Me to Sleep” is performed with a slide guitar and many “Hawaiian maidens” performing an elaborate dance number which has a tap dancing finale. At 7:01, more “Aloha Oe” and shots are shown of Waikiki once again, surfing, and catamarans, with the ship SS Lurline in the background as we say goodbye to Hawaii.
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