The Legend of 1900
(1998)
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The Legend of 1900
(1998)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tim Roth | ... | ||
| Pruitt Taylor Vince | ... | ||
| Bill Nunn | ... |
Danny Boodmann
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| Clarence Williams III | ... |
Jelly Roll Morton
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| Mélanie Thierry | ... |
The Girl
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Gabriele Lavia | ... |
Farmer
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| Peter Vaughan | ... |
'Pops', the Shopkeeper
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Niall O'Brien | ... |
Harbor Master
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| Alberto Vazquez | ... |
Mexican Stoker
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Luigi De Luca | ... |
Neapolitan Stoker
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Femi Elufowoju Jr. | ... |
Black Stoker
(as Femi Elufowoja Jr.)
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Nigel Fan | ... |
Chinese Stoker
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Roger Monk | ... |
Irish Stoker
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Leonid Zaslavski | ... |
Polish Stoker
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Bernard Padden | ... |
Boatswain
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Shortly after the Second World War, Max, a transplanted American, visits an English pawn shop to sell his trumpet. The shopkeeper recognizes the tune Max plays as one on a wax master of an unreleased recording, discovered and restored from shards found in a piano salvaged from a cruise ship turned hospital ship, now slated for demolition. This chance discovery prompts a story from Max, which he relates both to the shopkeeper and later to the official responsible for the doomed vessel, for Max is a born storyteller. Though now down on his luck and disillusioned by his wartime experiences, the New Orleans-born Max was once an enthusiastic and gifted young jazz musician, whose longest gig was several years with the house band aboard the Virginian, a posh cruise ship. While gaining his sea legs, he was befriended by another young man, the pianist in the same band, whose long unlikely name was Danny Boodman T.D. Lemons 1900, though everyone just called him 1900, the year of his birth. ... Written by GMBaxter
"The Legend of 1900" is not the most attractive title for a film and the Italian original, "The Legend of the Oceanic Pianist", is no better. in retrospect there is no title worthy of this film. The marquee should read simply "See This Film, Your Life Will Be Better for It."
The story, music, cinematography, direction and, I hazard to say, a near perfect performance by Tim Roth combine to make for a compelling film. The story is told with a poetic lyricism that is immediately captivating and that is more than enhanced by Lajos Koltai's well stated cinematography. Clarance Williams III's controlled overstatement as an unexpectedly nasty Jelly Roll Morton is the perfect contrast to Roth's underplayed and unworldly 1900.
The American release of the film is 125 minutes. The Italian release was 160 minutes. What are we missing. Maybe this shorter cut is better but I cannot forget the devastation that was wrought on "Once Upon A Time In America" for its 139 minute US theatrical release. I certainly would not be not adverse to being subjected to an additional 35 minutes of the film and judging for myself if it was too long.
Aside from its title the films only flaw is the exit song. After two hours of enthralling instrumentals the vocal on the exit song undercuts rather than underscores a masterful filmic experience.
...rmk