Jive Junction (1943)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Malvin Wald (story) &
Walter Doniger (story) ...

Release Date:

16 December 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

Tagline:

The Gayest Picture With The Gayest New Stars!

Plot:

A young, classical-trained musician, Peter Crane, transfers from the Conservatory to Clinton High School...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Contest | Competition | Fight | Hollywood Bowl

Cast

Dickie Moore	...	Peter Crane
Tina Thayer	...	Claire Emerson
Gerra Young	...	Gerra Young
John Michaels	...	Jimmy Emerson (as Johnny Michaels)
Jack Wagner	...	Grant Saunders
Jan Wiley	...	Miss Forbes
Beverly Boyd	...	Cubby
William Halligan	...	Mr. Maglodian (as Bill Halligan)
Johnny Duncan	...	Frank
Johnny Clark	...	Chick
Friedrich Feher	...	Frederick Feher (as Frederick Feher)
Caral Ashley	...	Mary
Odessa Lauren	...	Girl (as Odessa Laurin)
Robert McKenzie	...	Sheriff (as Bob McKenzie)

Also Known As:

Swing High (UK)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9734) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Producers Releasing Corporation

Trivia:

This was the first production of the newly-formed PRC Pictures, Inc.

Soundtrack:

Jive Junction

Okay, So It's not Singin' in the Rain

PRC quickie for wartime audiences who understandably didn't care as long as they got a few minutes of escape. It's a no-name cast with forgettable musical numbers and the familiar "Let's put on a show" plot. So why watch it now after so many years. Okay, there's no compelling reason, but it does provide a pleasant hour's diversion along with a good look at youth styles and attitudes during those stressed-out war years. This is also a must-see for fans of cult director Edgar G. Ulmer, proving once again that his camera never faltered regardless of the material. Here his stamp can be clearly seen in the brief but effective montage of highschool band competition. But I'm still wondering why that cheap PRC outfit couldn't at least pop the money to cap Gerra Young's teeth for her many singing close-ups. Too bad, because this looks like her one-and-only shot at Deanna Durbin's teen-age operatic crown. Then there's Dickie Moore's eyes, the biggest, blackest, and most liquid of any on Hollywood record of that day or any day. Probably that was what got him started in the movies in the first place. Alright, so I'm no closer to a good reason for watching than I was before. But then how many times have you sat down expecting no more from the movie than pleasant entertainment. You can get that here along with a good glimpse of what youth were like before the teen sub-culture and Rock 'n Roll changed band leaders into strutting stage performers,