IMDb > King of Jazz (1930)

King of Jazz (1930) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   234 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Charles MacArthur (writer)
Harry Ruskin (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for King of Jazz on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 April 1930 (USA) more
Genre:
Animation | Music more
Plot:
This revue presents its numbers around the orchestra leader Paul Whiteman, besides that it shows in... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. more
User Comments:
Essential for two-strip Technicolor and Oscar winning sets more (16 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:98 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Company:
Universal Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The animation sequence, created by Walter Lantz, was the first Technicolor animation ever produced. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Universal Story (1995) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
It Happened in Monterey more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
11 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Essential for two-strip Technicolor and Oscar winning sets, 13 August 2004
Author: Arne Andersen (aandersen@landmarkcollege.org) from Putney, VT

Please refer to the superbly written and extensive reviews by "lugonian" and "jz1360" on this site. Between them they don't miss a bit of this elaborate musical review. There are 18 musical numbers and a half dozen brief comedy skits (prominently featuring Walter Brennan and Slim Summerville)- all squeezed into 93 minutes. The comedy is poor and the production numbers vary from merely okay to spectacular.

The two main reasons why this is an important film to preserve are the two-strip Technicolor and its Oscar for Art Direction. Over 120 films were produced with two-strip Technicolor between 1923 and 1933. Only about 55 of these were completely filmed in the process, the others having only Technicolor inserts. Of these 55 or so, only a dozen survive. This is one of them. The predominance here of red and blue (as in the Fairbanks silent 1926 color classic - THE BLACK PIRATE) is accentuated by true brown, orange and a brownish attempt at yellow. All colors register as quite pale. The special effects are outstanding for the time. Whiteman reminds one of Oliver Hardy- facial resemblance is quite striking.

The enormous and stylish sets deservedly won an Art Direction Oscar.

As a document of follies-type vaudevillian entertainment of the time, it is of value. Add to that the two-strip Technicolor and the sets and you do have a visual treat - a bit of time capsule musical performance history.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (16 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for King of Jazz (1930)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Elmer Elephant Wildest Africa Congo Jazz Whys and Otherwise The Big Drip
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Animation section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.