Gus Arnheim

In 1920s Chicago, Italian immigrant and notorious thug, Antonio 'Tony' Camonte, aka Scarface, shoots his way to the top of the mobs while trying to protect his sister from the criminal life.

A glamorous film star rebels against the studio, her pushy press agent and a family of hangers-on.

An inventor and his lanky girlfriend set an altitude record in his winged contraption.

Gus Arnheim and his band play the title song, sung by June Robbins (with Bouncing Ball). Animated sequence:...

A homeless and destitute violinist joins a combo to bring it success, but has problems with her love life.

Shy Charley tries to win his girl.

Sitting at the piano, Gus Arnheim leads his Ambassador Hotel Orchestra - totaling twelve band members - in two musical numbers. The music is up-tempo typical of the roaring twenties. The music is generally instrumental, however the second of the two numbers includes a singing trio, those members who take a break from the instrument playing. They finish their two number set in a standing position.

"Gus Arnhein and His Coconut Grove Orchestra" is an agreeable short--and one of the earlier Vitaphone released. While the band is just about totally forgotten today, they had a nice sound and are a nice representative of the era. And, like most Vitaphone films of the day, the camera is mostly stationary and there are no fancy effects--just a straight recording of the act--which included several nice songs.