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BEEN RICH ALL MY LIFE follows the unlikliest
troupe of tap dancing divas. They are the "Silver Belles,"
five former showgirls now aged 84-96, performing to standing
ovations, as sassy as they ever were. They met during Harlem's
1930's heyday, dancing in the chorus lines at the Apollo
Theater, the Cotton Club, Small's Paradise and Connie's Inn,
performing with legendary band leaders like Cab Calloway and
Duke Ellington. When the big band era ended, they all went
into other work -- but in 1985 they put their shoes back on,
and have been dancing together again ever since. They may not
kick as high, but they are hip-swaying and show-biz savvy.
Each of the Silver Belles has a distinctive, idiosyncratic
personality, but they share a love of dance and the ability to
flirt with an audience. "We mug more now than we used to,"
explains Marion Coles. "I light up like a Christmas tree when
I go out there, the right music will just push you," adds Fay
Ray. "I may be old, but I'm not cold!" exclaims Bertye Lou
Wood, the eldest at 96.
They also have rich stories to tell about the history they
made during the Harlem Renaissance, illuminated by a treasure
trove of archival film and photos. The music score ranges over
eight decades of jazz styles, from the honky tonk sounds of
the 20's, the big bands of the 30's and 40's, the bebop of the
50's-to the rhythms of contemporary jazz as the ladies travel
the streets of their neighborhoods today.
The film sparkles with the candor of these inspiring women,
from their rehearsals at the Cotton Club, to their shows at
concert halls around the city -- and over the considerable
bumps in between. At the core of the film, amidst the music,
the laughter and arguments, is the friendship that has
continued over 70 years. The Silver Belles may get pacemakers
and break their bones, but they heal and keep on dancing
together. |
