King of Jazz (1930)

Director:

John Murray Anderson

Writers:

Charles MacArthur (writer)
Harry Ruskin (writer)

Release Date:

20 April 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Music

Plot:

This revue presents its numbers around the orchestra leader Paul Whiteman, besides that it shows in...

Plot Keywords:

Revue | Hit With Coconut | Cartoon Elephant | Two Strip Technicolor | Cartoon Lion

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Paul Whiteman	...	Himself (as Paul Whiteman and His Band)
John Boles	...	Himself - Vocalist ("Song of the Dawn" / "It Happened in Monterey")
Laura La Plante	...	Editor ("Ladies of the Press") / Stenographer ("In Conference")
Glenn Tryon	...	Executive ("In Conference") / Unmarried Husband
Jeanette Loff	...	Herself - Vocalist ("It Happened in Monterey" / "Bridal Veil" / "A Bench in the Park")
Merna Kennedy	...	Second Reporter ("Ladies of the Press") / Wife ("In Conference") / Unmarried Wife
Stanley Smith	...	Bridegroom ("Bridal Veil" / "A Bench in the Park")
Slim Summerville	...	Automobile Owner ("Springtime") / Rear End of Horse / Charles
Otis Harlan	...	Charles's Intended Father-in-Law
William Kent	...	General ("All Noisy on the Eastern Front") / Goldfish Owner ("Oh! Forevermore!") / Unmarried Couple's Offspring / Vocal ("Do Things For You")
Bing Crosby	...	Himself (as The Rhythm Boys)
Al Rinker	...	Himself (as The Rhythm Boys)
Harry Barris	...	Himself (as The Rhythm Boys)
Eleanor Gutchrlein	...	Herself, Dance Specialty (as Sisters G)
Karla Gutchrlein	...	Herself Dance Specialty (as Sisters G)

Runtime:

USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Paul Whiteman's dance double was Paul Small (1909-1954), an acrobatic dancer, and long-time Whiteman imitator, not to be confused with the singer of the same name.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Universal Story (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

A Bench In The Park

A terrific early technicolor musical!

When I first saw this film, I was amazed at some parts and extremely disappointed at others. To be sure, the comedy acts are absolutely abysmal. (Audiences in 1930 didn't find them any funnier than audiences today, so don't feel too bad about hating them.) Also, a lot of the vocalists are grating and painful to listen to. Of course, the parts where the film really shines are the parts that feature the magnificent Paul Whiteman orchestra. This band has been unfairly maligned because although Paul Whiteman was titled "The King of Jazz", his orchestra was not a jazz band per se. But man, were they ever good musicians! Just get a load of the "Meet the Boys" segment towards the beginning...Harry Goldfield doing his best Henry Busse impersonation, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang playing "Wildcat" in one of their few film appearances, the entire violin section playing a lovely rendition of Caprice Viennois, Chester Hazlett and Roy Bargy doing a pretty rendition of Nola, followed by Wilbur Hall's trombone virtuosity display on the same number. (And let's not forget little Mike Pingitore on "Linger Awhile"!)

Oh yes, and did I mention it has Bing Crosby's first appearance in a feature film? He's with the Rhythm Boys, and man, those guys are HOT! Just get a load of them on "Happy Feet". And check out eccentric dancer Al Norman if you want to see something really crazy.

Last but not least, I would like to mention Wilbur Hall's wonderful trick violin act, and, might I add, the most unique rendition of a Sousa march you'll ever hear in your lifetime. (You haven't heard "The Stars and Stripes Forever" until you've heard it on a bicycle pump!)

Go get yourself a copy and have fun!