Jam Session (1944)

Kansas girl Terry Baxter has won a trip to Hollywood, tries to get a job as a dancer and ends up as secretary of screenwriter Haven. She mixes up the scripts, is fired and when she tries to... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Barton

Writers:

Harlan Ware (story), Patterson McNutt (story),

Stars:

Ann Miller, Jess Barker, Charlie Barnet

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ann Miller	...	Terry Baxter
Jess Barker	...	George Carter Haven
Charlie Barnet	...	Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra	...	Charlie Barnet Orchestra (as Charlie Barnet's Orchestra)
Louis Armstrong	...	Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong's Orchestra	...	Louis Armstrong Orchestra
Alvino Rey	...	Alvino Rey
Alvino Rey's Orchestra	...	Alvino Rey Orchestra
Jan Garber	...	Jan Garber
Jan Garber's Orchestra	...	Jan Garber Orchestra
Glen Gray	...	Glen Gray
Glen Gray's Orchestra	...	Glen Gray Orchestra
Teddy Powell	...	Teddy Powell
Teddy Powell's Orchestra	...	Teddy Powell Orchestra
Nan Wynn	...	Nan Wynn

Storyline

Kansas girl Terry Baxter has won a trip to Hollywood, tries to get a job as a dancer and ends up as secretary of screenwriter Haven. She mixes up the scripts, is fired and when she tries to explain to him what happened, she tries to break in a residence - she belives it belongs Haven's boss Stuart, but she is wrong - and is arrested. But Stuart and Haven don't let her drop.

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Plot Keywords:

secretary | dancer | kansas | italian | makeup room | 

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Taglines:

It's a super celebration with the swing stars of the nation!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Grande Atracção

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Head (1968)

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Soundtracks

"Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)"
Written by Ary Barroso
English lyrics by S.K. Russell
Performed by Nan Wynn

User Reviews

A apt vehicle for Ann Miller

Ann Miller shines in this oft-used tale playing a small town girl trying to break into Hollywood.

This is a movie about making a movie. Not any movie, mind you, but this movie, a movie named "Jam Session." A writer is hired to write a plot to tie together performances by several big bands, not true jam sessions, however, or even staged ones, but rather numbers performed and filmed for the movie within the movie (making the title a bit of a misnomer).

Ann's character carries a letter of introduction to the head of the studio which just happens to be the one making Jam Session, but she can't get past the door. Not one to give up, she attempts to get into the studio by whatever means, including posing as secretary to the movie's screenwriter. (It's a bit of fun watching her character trying to figure out a typewriter.)

As for the musical numbers, they kick off with one by trumpet master Louis Armstrong. A couple of throw-away novelty numbers follow, but pick up again with the Pied Pipers, a perennial favorite, and with Nan Wynn, the vocalist featured in the opening credits. Naturally, without belaboring the plot points, everything works out in the end with a production number featuring our gal Ann.