MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Down 1,472 this week

American Pop (1981)

6.7
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 6.7/10 from 2,099 users  
Reviews: 57 user | 14 critic

The story of four generations of a Russian Jewish family of musicians parallels the history of American popular music in the 20th century.

Director:

Writer:

Watch Trailer
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 629 titles created 29 May 2011
 
a list of 2916 titles created 16 May 2011
 
a list of 137 titles created 09 May 2011
 
a list of 5779 titles created 5 months ago
 
a list of 124 titles created 10 Jan 2011
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: American Pop (1981)

American Pop (1981) on IMDb 6.7/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of American Pop.

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Coonskin (1975)
Animation | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A multi-layered satire of race relations in America. Live-action sequences of a prison break bracket the animated story of Brother Rabbit, Brother Bear, and Preacher Fox, who rise to the ... See full summary »

Director: Ralph Bakshi
Stars: Barry White, Charles Gordone, Scatman Crothers
Heavy Traffic (1973)
Animation | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.4/10 X  

An "underground" cartoonist contends with life in the inner city, where various unsavory characters serve as inspiration for his artwork.

Director: Ralph Bakshi
Stars: Joseph Kaufmann, Beverly Hope Atkinson, Frank DeKova
Drama | Musical
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

A troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.

Director: Alan Parker
Stars: Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves, James Laurenson
Almost Famous (2000)
Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies it on their concert tour.

Director: Cameron Crowe
Stars: Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson
Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

In 1984, British newspaper reporter Arthur Stuart is investigating the career of 1970s glam rock star Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early years by American rock singer Curt... See full summary »

Director: Todd Haynes
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale
Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X  

Mark runs a pirate radio station and causes an uproar when he speaks his mind and enthralls fellow teens.

Director: Allan Moyle
Stars: Christian Slater, Annie Ross, Andy Romano
Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher.

Director: Stephen Herek
Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas
Animation | Drama | Family
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A young girl finds that all the books she chooses in the library have been previously checked out by the same boy. Later she meets a very infuriating fellow... could it be her "friend" from... See full summary »

Director: Yoshifumi Kondô
Stars: Youko Honna, Kazuo Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana
The Doors (1991)
Biography | Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

The story of the famous and influential 1960's rock band and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison.

Director: Oliver Stone
Stars: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan
Comedy | Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

A transexual punk rock girl from East Berlin tours the US with her rock band as she tells her life story and follows the ex-boyfriend/bandmate who stole her songs.

Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Stars: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask
Drama | Music | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher.

Director: Michael Haneke
Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel
Animation | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

A 27-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tôkyô.

Director: Isao Takahata
Stars: Miki Imai, Toshirô Yanagiba, Youko Honna
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Tony / Pete (voice)
...
Frankie (voice) (as Marya Small)
Jerry Holland ...
Louie (voice)
...
Bella (voice)
Jeffrey Lippa ...
Zalmie (voice)
Roz Kelly ...
Eva Tanguay (voice)
...
Crisco (voice) (as Frank De Kova)
Richard Singer ...
Benny (voice)
Elsa Raven ...
Hannele (voice)
Ben Frommer ...
Palumbo (voice)
Amy Levitt ...
Nancy (voice)
...
Leo Stern (voice)
Eric Taslitz ...
Little Pete (voice)
Gene Borkan ...
Izzy (voice)
...
Beat Poet (voice)
Edit

Storyline

"American Pop" is the animated story of a very talented and troubled family starting with 19th century Russia and moving through several generations of musicians. The film covers American music from the pre-jazz age through soul, '50s rock, drug-laden psychadelia, and punk, finally ending with the onset of new wave in the early 1980s. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

musician | pop | 1980s | jewish | 20th century | See more »

Taglines:

All those years, all those dreams, all those sons... one of them is going to be a star. See more »

Genres:

Animation | Drama | Music

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

13 February 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Amerykanska muzyka pop  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although not specifically stated, the incident in which Zalmie's mother dies appears to be the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a one of the worst industrial disasters in New York City's history. 146 garment workers, mostly immigrant women, died either in the fire, or by jumping from the windows of the 8th-10th floors because the doors were locked shut. The fire prompted legislative and union action to improve safety and working conditions in garment sweatshops. See more »

Goofs

The German Soldier who shoots the pianist is wearing an American Helmet with a Swastika painted on the front (which was not the case in any German forces during the war). Also, his weapon is obviously a semi-automatic rifle but he fires it full-automatic as though it were a sub-machine gun. See more »

Quotes

Zalmie: Hey, Louie. I just seen the most beautiful thing I ever seen in the whole world.
Louie: Some pre-Prohibition booze, huh?
Zalmie: No. I seen the stripper gettin' dressed.
Louie: A stripper gettin' dressed ain't beautiful unless she's ugly to begin with.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Disclaimer before soundtrack listings: The following songs were depicted as being written by fictional characters. The producer would like to thank the true composers. See more »

Connections

References I Love Lucy (1951) See more »

Soundtracks

"Mona Lisa"
Composed by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Good. Especially if you're a music geek, like me.
23 November 2003 | by (Ontario) – See all my reviews

I love the animation style used in this movie. The interlacing of real footage and photos from earlier times brings a level of realism not seen in many animated films. The characters move realistically as well; minute body language is portrayed well. Voice overs are great. Of course it's not "Disney quality", but it's got a grittiness to it that truly makes it original.

Now I can see how one could criticize this movie. Basically, it all depends on how you watch it. If you watch it as a drama, you'll be disappointed. The plot is very centered around the one tragic late hippieish character, and is pretty simple and predictable. But there's a certain amount of charm within the overall story, kind of a sad, but beautiful shine.

If you watch it more as a musical, the movie works fine. The songs chosen are fantastic, and they totally underline the feel of the scenes in which they are used. In one of the first scenes, taking place in Czar-era Russia, there is no dialogue, only subtitles (giving it a great historical feel). The soundtrack is a sad and stirring Russian song sung acappella. You really get a sense of what the characters were going through.

This style continues throughout the movie. One of the most emotional scenes, for me, takes place in a cornfield, with the character torn apart with what he's done with his life. Janis Joplin's version of "Summertime" (an interesting choice, perhaps a hint of a throwback to earlier eras, as it is a Gershwin tune) as haunting as ever plays as the character cries. Messed up. But well done.

Jimi Hendrix has a cameo. A pseudo-Joplin/Slick character has a major role. A Sex Pistols parody jams it out. Late 70s corporate goons are running the studio. Great fun.

And that's how you have to enjoy the movie; and that's probably why music geeks will love it more than anyone else.


15 of 16 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Did you see this at a theater? batfan34
Does anyone know who covered Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright?' Havensrok
Favorite Song! Angry_Arguer
How did Frankie die? andy5421
Is Night Moves Tony's Unfinished song? miley51
Nudity? fagriculture
Discuss American Pop (1981) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?