The Girls in the Band (2011)

 

 

 

 

The Girls in the Band is a documentary film which premiered in 2011. In this film, female musicians talk about their lives and their experiences in the music business.

 

Being a female musician was not always easy. There were many obstacles to overcome. Many male musicians did not want them to join their bands. Why not?

 

Perhaps they were jealous? Perhaps they were afraid of the competition? Perhaps they were just very old-fashioned?

 

If women wanted to be active musicians, it seemed they would have to set up their own bands, which some of them did. Often with great results. One remarkable example is the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

 

White women faced discrimination, because they were women. Women of colour faced discrimination - not only because they were women, but because they were women of colour.

 

This film is about sexism and racism in the music business in the US during six decades – from the 1930s to the beginning of the 21st century – and about some of the women who dared to challenge old traditions and established norms.

 

Here is some basic information about it:

 

** Director and producer: Judy Chalkin

** Writers: Judy Chalkin and Edward Osei-Gyimah

** Editor: Edward Osei-Gyimah

** Post production supervisor: Nancy Kissock

** Associate producer: Erin Li

** Run time: 88 minutes

 

Many persons are interviewed in the film. Most are female musicians. I will not mention all names, because I think the complete list is too long. Here are some names (listed in alphabetical order):

 

** Jessie Bailey – plays the trombone

** Clora Bryant (1927-2019) – plays the trumpet

** Roz Cron (born 1923) – plays the saxophone

** Peggy Gilbert (1905-2007) – plays the saxophone

** Melba Liston (1926-1999) – plays the trombone

** Sherrie Maricle (born 1963) – plays the drums

** Carline Ray (1925-2013) – plays the bass

** Helen Jones Woods (born 1923) – plays the trombone

 

Archive footage is used to present some musicians who were no longer alive when the film was made; for instance: 

 

** Vi Redd (saxophone)

** Hazel Scott (piano)

** Mary Lou Williams (piano)

 

What do reviewers say about this film? Here are the results of three review aggregators:

 

74 percent = IMDb

90 percent = Meta

57 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)

100 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)

 

On Amazon there are 10 global reviews and ratings. The average rating is 4.9 stars.

 

As you can see, the ratings are quite good. When you look at Rotten Tomatoes, you can see that there is a sharp difference between the professional critics and the general audience.

 

The critics love this film. I think I know why. They look at the topic. They think it is very important. They think a film about an important topic must be a great film. And they offer a high rating. But is this line of thinking right?

 

Among the general audience, there are four reviews. Three of them follow the critics and praise the film. But one of them does not follow the flock. The topic is important, yes, but this is not the only aspect that we must look at when we want to rate a film. We must also look at the way in which the topic is covered; how the story is presented.

 

Here is what the critical reviewer says about the film:

 

“Terrible. It covered what seemed like an endless list of female players with each just getting 2 or 3 minutes with very short snippets of their music. Would have been much better if the cover 1/3 as many people with 3 times more for each.”

 

I agree with this critical statement. I was thinking exactly the same while I was watching the film.

 

After 10 minutes, I think we get the message: these female musicians were facing unfair obstacles just because they were women.

 

After 20 minutes, I think we get the message. The same message as before!

 

After 30 minutes, I think we get the message. The same message as before. And we are only 30 minutes in. We are not even half way through the film!

 

The traditional form with a combination of talking heads and archive clips with recording of old music is monotonous and boring. As the critical reviewer says:

 

It would have been much better to cover fewer musicians and offer each of them more time to present their story.

 

If the film-makers had done this, we might have been able to get to know them and to identify with them and remember them.

 

Presenting an endless list of players who all offer more or less the same story is not a good idea. This approach will not captivate an audience. I am surprised to see that no professional critic was able to notice this fact and use it to offer a lower rating.

 

This film has an important story which deserves to be told. But in this case, it is not done very well.

 

The Girls in the Band is not great; it is not even good; it is just average. And therefore, it cannot get more than three stars.

 

PS # 1. The International Sweethearts of Rhythm - the first integrated all-women’s band in the US - was active for more than ten years (1937-1949). These women made history. For more information about this unique band, see the following items:

 

** The International Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Ladies Jazz Band from Piney Woods Country Life School by Handy Antoinette (1998)

** Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World by Marilyn Nelson (2009)

** Swing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm by Karen Deans (2015)

 

PS # 2. Peggy Gilbert lived to be more than 100 years old! For more information about her life and career in music, see the following items:

 

** A Time to Dance by Peggy Gilbert (1989)

** Peggy Gilbert and her All-Girl Band by Jeannie Gayle Pool (2008)

 

*****

 

 

 *****

 

 

 *****