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IMDb > Kansas City (1996)
Kansas City
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Kansas City (1996) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 20 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
Kansas City (1996) -- US Home Video Trailer from Fine Line
Kansas City (1996) -- "CBS News RAW": Barack Obama gave a quick "hello" from Kansas City after his wife, Michelle, spoke at the DNC. Obama said his persevering courtship of Michelle showed that he's a "persistent president."

Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   2,164 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 18% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Altman
Writers (WGA):
Robert Altman (written by) &
Frank Barhydt (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Kansas City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 August 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Music | Thriller more
Tagline:
Kansas City, 1934. Anything could happen here. One night it did.
Plot:
Robert Altman's jazz-scored film explores themes of love, crime, race, and politics in 1930's Kansas City... more | add synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
A must for real jazz fans more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jennifer Jason Leigh ... Blondie O'Hara

Miranda Richardson ... Carolyn Stilton

Harry Belafonte ... Seldom Seen

Michael Murphy ... Henry Stilton

Dermot Mulroney ... Johnny O'Hara

Steve Buscemi ... Johnny Flynn

Brooke Smith ... Babe Flynn
Jane Adams ... Nettie Bolt
Jeff Feringa ... Addie Parker
A.C. Tony Smith ... Sheepshan Red (as A.C. Smith)
Martin Martin ... 'Blue' Green
Albert J. Burnes ... Charlie Parker
Ajia Mignon Johnson ... Pearl Cummings

Tim Snay ... Rally Speaker
Tawanna Benbow ... Rose
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language, and for some violence and drug use.
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
France | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
Kansas City, Kansas, USA more
Company:
CiBy 2000 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Robert Altman grew up in Kansas City. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Governor Guy Park is telephoned about the kidnapping, he suggests notifying the state police. Missouri has no state police (only Highway Patrol). more
Quotes:
Seldom Seen: You have to understand Sheepshan. He's a loser. And losers've got to be respected. They're the backbone of my business. They're my customers, and I take good care of my customers. more
Movie Connections:
References The Girl from Missouri (1934) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful:-
A must for real jazz fans, 26 March 2008
8/10
Author: sekander from Thailand

The music is superb. The movie is so-so. The period sets are perfect and its just like being back in KC during the infamous Pendergast era. Altman made this movie as a paean to his hometown and the music that came out of it. One cannot divorce the music from the movie. Either you are a jazz fan or you're not. If you're not, you won't like this movie. Its that simple. If you are, you are really in for a treat. The film features all of the "new" stars in jazz from the mid-90's (James Carter and Craig Handy on saxes, Mark Whitfield on guitar, Geri Allen and Cyrus Chestnut on piano....the list goes on and on. They all play the legends of jazz that came out of Kansas City-people like Count Basie, Joe Williams, Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins. A veritable treat for the in-the-know jazz fan but probably a bore for anyone else. Altman stays on the music longer than most directors would because this is a film about the music as much as it is about the plot.

And here's the real irony. Movie buffs will say they wished Altman wouldn't have devoted so much time to the music and jazz buffs will say they wished Altman would have done away with the ridiculous, annoying plot and grating performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh and focused entirely on the music. How to please everyone? The end result is uneven but there's enough here to keep all parties interested.

If any actor should be singled out, it should be Harry Belafonte. His turn as the underworld kingpin, Seldom Seen, is fantastic. He speaks in a low, gruff rasp but his dialogue is truly worth the effort to understand. When he goes off on the Marcus Garvey speech, its worth the price of admission. Of course, it helps to know who Marcus Garvey was. Jazz fans (and reggae fans, too) will get it. After all, this is a movie for them/us.

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