Henry Nemo
Encyclopedia
Henry Nemo was a musician, songwriter and actor in Hollywood films who had a reputation as a hipster
and was sometimes referred to as the "creator of jive" talk. He showcased some of this "jive talk" in a bit part as "The Neem" in the 1947 movie Song of the Thin Man
.
Nemo's rare collection of jazz memorabilia documents 1930s music and his days at the Cotton Club, where he wrote the lyrics with Irving Mills
and John Redmond
for "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (1938), with music by Duke Ellington
. In Nemo's historical collection are original photographs which he took at the Cotton Club, plus Cotton Club memorabilia and a 1939 telegram from Ellington to Nemo, written in jive talk.
He composed the song standards "Don't Take Your Love From Me
" and "’Tis Autumn," both published in 1941. He also composed the incidental music and lyrics for the 1959 Broadway
production of Saul Levitt's play The Andersonville Trial
, directed by José Ferrer
, and starring George C. Scott
.
Nemo teamed with numerous music industry music celebrities, including Frank Sinatra
, Duke Ellington
, Mildred Bailey
and Tommy Dorsey
and Artie Shaw
, who recorded his song "Don't Take Your Love for Me." Shaw recorded this song in 1941 with a band of mostly African-American musicians accompanying the African-American vocalist Lena Horne
. During his seven decade career, Nemo lived in Los Angeles
and New York
.
In 1989, he appeared in The Plot Against Harry
, a film made in 1969 by independent film
makers Michael Roemer
and Robert M. Young.
Hipster (1940s subculture)
Hipster, as used in the 1940s, referred to aficionados of jazz, in particular bebop, which became popular in the early 1940s. The hipster adopted the lifestyle of the jazz musician, including some or all of the following: dress, slang, use of cannabis and other drugs, relaxed attitude, sarcastic...
and was sometimes referred to as the "creator of jive" talk. He showcased some of this "jive talk" in a bit part as "The Neem" in the 1947 movie Song of the Thin Man
Song of the Thin Man
Song of the Thin Man is a 1947 comedy-crime film directed by Edward Buzzell, the last of the six Thin Man films. Like the others, it stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, characters created by Dashiell Hammett. Nick Jr. is played by Dean Stockwell...
.
Nemo's rare collection of jazz memorabilia documents 1930s music and his days at the Cotton Club, where he wrote the lyrics with Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
and John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
for "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (1938), with music by Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. In Nemo's historical collection are original photographs which he took at the Cotton Club, plus Cotton Club memorabilia and a 1939 telegram from Ellington to Nemo, written in jive talk.
He composed the song standards "Don't Take Your Love From Me
Don't Take Your Love from Me
"Don't Take Your Love from Me" is a popular song written by Henry Nemo and published in 1941. It was introduced that year by singer Joan Brooks.-Recorded versions:*Eddy Arnold* Joan Brooks *Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown...
" and "’Tis Autumn," both published in 1941. He also composed the incidental music and lyrics for the 1959 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Saul Levitt's play The Andersonville Trial
The Andersonville Trial
The Andersonville Trial was a television adaptation of a 1959 hit Broadway play by Saul Levitt, presented as an episode of PBS's 1970-71 season of Hollywood Television Theatre....
, directed by José Ferrer
José Ferrer
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
, and starring George C. Scott
George C. Scott
George Campbell Scott was an American stage and film actor, director and producer. He was best known for his stage work, as well as his portrayal of General George S. Patton in the film Patton, and as General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's Dr...
.
Nemo teamed with numerous music industry music celebrities, including Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing"...
and Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
, who recorded his song "Don't Take Your Love for Me." Shaw recorded this song in 1941 with a band of mostly African-American musicians accompanying the African-American vocalist Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
. During his seven decade career, Nemo lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 1989, he appeared in The Plot Against Harry
The Plot Against Harry
The Plot Against Harry is a 1989 American comedy film directed by Michael Roemer and filmed in 1969. It was screened out of competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Martin Priest as Harry Plotnick* Ben Lang as Leo* Maxine Woods as Kay...
, a film made in 1969 by independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
makers Michael Roemer
Michael Roemer
Michael Roemer is a film director, producer and writer. He has won several awards for his films. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. A professor at Yale University, he is the author of Telling Stories.- Early years :...
and Robert M. Young.