"Elstree Calling" is a very rough film to watch in 2021. The sound quality is only fair, the color sequence is in bad need of restoration (it's all pink due to age) and it's very stagy. On the other hand, while the acts are very hit or miss, technically speaking it actually is pretty very amazing for 1930, since the British had only made their first sound film the year before this. And, two-color film stock was still quite unusual in 1930...especially in British films. So, I recommend the film less for its quality now...but for what it was back in 1930 and I am pretty sure it wowed audiences of the day.
The format of the film is to present act after act after act with no real plot. Some is comedy, some dance and some singing....and the experience is like spending the evening at a British dance hall revue. It's very reminiscent of MGM's "The Hollywood Revue of 1929" and Paramount's "Paramount on Parade", though the stars in these American films are much more recognizable today.
Most of the acts are fair at best. One of the more interesting ones is The Three Eddies. It's interesting as they appear initially to be the standard minstrel act. But they sport glowy glasses and make-up and appear to actually be black performers...and some minstrel performers were black underneath the makeup. But sadly a Google search yielded almost nothing about the act. There are a couple videos of them performing on YouTube (at least one is from this film). I am also sure that politically correct folks will not enjoy the act...but it is our history. The same can be said about the funny comedian playing the cheap Scotsman (a common stereotype of the day). Like it or not, it is our history. I also enjoyed the weird motorcycle act merged with Shakespeare! You have to see it to believe it!
Overall, a very hit or miss affair...some of the acts are clever and enjoyable and some are creaky with age and quite dull.
The format of the film is to present act after act after act with no real plot. Some is comedy, some dance and some singing....and the experience is like spending the evening at a British dance hall revue. It's very reminiscent of MGM's "The Hollywood Revue of 1929" and Paramount's "Paramount on Parade", though the stars in these American films are much more recognizable today.
Most of the acts are fair at best. One of the more interesting ones is The Three Eddies. It's interesting as they appear initially to be the standard minstrel act. But they sport glowy glasses and make-up and appear to actually be black performers...and some minstrel performers were black underneath the makeup. But sadly a Google search yielded almost nothing about the act. There are a couple videos of them performing on YouTube (at least one is from this film). I am also sure that politically correct folks will not enjoy the act...but it is our history. The same can be said about the funny comedian playing the cheap Scotsman (a common stereotype of the day). Like it or not, it is our history. I also enjoyed the weird motorcycle act merged with Shakespeare! You have to see it to believe it!
Overall, a very hit or miss affair...some of the acts are clever and enjoyable and some are creaky with age and quite dull.