Barry & Joan is an elegant film, in which Audrey Rumsby follows an elderly couple, the Granthams: she a little old thing at the piano; he dancing in his baker-boy cap and tappety-tap feet, both passing on their skills.
Barry & Joan is a delightfully quirky film, informative and funny, and capturing a couple of troupers who are two of our few remaining links to vaudeville.
Although the pace of the piece never lets up, there's plenty of room for reflection: on the long lives of Barry and Joan, and of the longer life of the likes of vaudeville and so-called eccentric dance.
Rumsby not only conveys her own affection for the pair, but also celebrates in this busy, breezy film the joy with which Barry and Joan approach playing,
This joyful 87-minute documentary feature film was released … See it and you won’t want to keep your feet still either.
Total Film
First-time filmmaker Audrey Rumsby shines a spotlight on Barry and Joan Grantham, veterans of the golden age of vaudeville who now teach their (almost forgotten) craft to new generations.
Film and TV Now
One of the most influential theatrical teams of all time.
