CANNES -- The soundtrack is the main glory and selling point of ''Bix,'' an English-language but Italian-made biopic by the Avati family based on the life of famed musician Leon ''Bix'' Beiderbecke. This Iowa boy made an indelible mark on jazz in the roaring '20s but, because of booze and an appetite for self-destruction, he died in 1931 at the age of 28.
If the ''Bix'' saga falls far short of any intended bull's-eye, and it does, there'll be no squawking about the music that zings, struts and vibrates in the foreground and background as the story unfolds. Recycling a wealth of old jazz tunes from the 1920s, many of them actually Beiderbecke's own, ''Bix'' is worth a visit if only to listen to what transpires when the talking stops.
If properly promoted, album sales of the soundtrack, with arrangements by Bob Wilber, could ring up some impressive totals. The movie itself may not be so lucky.
For such a downbeat tale, the film (labeled ''an interpretation of a legend'') is painted with surprisingly rosy strokes, in a glossy manner reminiscent of Hollywood musical biopics of the 1940s.
(Curiously, although made 41 years ago, Warner Bros.' ''Young Man With a Horn, '' loosely based on Beiderbecke's life and starring Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall and Doris Day, looks like a more contemporary rendition than this postcard-pretty version.)
The sunshine aspect may seem too old-fashioned for today's hipper moviegoers, and Beiderbecke devotees may find it all too lightweight a telling.
It's not to say that the film isn't entertaining; it is, although it is nowhere near a definitive inspection of the great cornetist Bix nor is it a realistic recreation of the Jazz Age in which he soared to fame before the fall.
The script by Pupi Avati, Antonio Avati and Lino Patruno fairly breezes along, hop-skipping backwards and forwards in time, but never digs lower than a chipper surface level to investigate what made the title character tick, then stop ticking.
The film opens after the premature death of Bix in 1931, then backspaces to 1924 to set up his pre-success days as an unreliable student, constantly perplexing to his small-town parents. In school he forms an alliance with Hoagy Carmichael (Romano Luccio Orzari) and Don Murray (Matthew Buzzell) that leads to the formation of a jazz band. From then on, it's a zoom to the big time, hampered only by Bix's own demons which eventually lead to his early demise.
He drinks but we're never told why. He's also unreliable, although constantly professing his desire to please both kin and friends. He's super-talented but can't hold a job. Next to blowing a horn, the most important thing in his life, he says, is to settle down, yet that seems beyond his realm. And whatever the reasons, the script keeps them secret.
He drinks but we're never told why. He's also unreliable, although constantly professing his desire to please both kin and friends. He's super-talented but can't hold a job. Next to blowing a horn, the most important thing in his life, he says, is to settle down, yet that seems beyond his realm. And whatever the reasons, the script keeps them secret., a factor that hampers ''Bix'' from flying anywhere as high as its music does.
Too bad, too, because there's much to like here in spite of the unfilled holes. The cast is fresh-faced and new, led by Bryant Weeks in the title role. He may not be quite up to the John Garfield-ish demands of this particular character, but he possesses a scrubbed likability and demeanor that should put him in good stead for other future roles.
Emile Levisetti is especially impressive as jazz violinist Joe Venuti, Bix's longtime buddy and himself a celebrated musician. He frames the story in a brief prologue and epilogue with Sally Groth, and makes his moments some of the best in the film. Orzari is also winning as Carmichael (with Carmichael's ''Stardust'' also getting a brief reprise on the soundtrack), and rest of the players are attractive and able.
Each has been given Rolls-Royce support by the art direction of Carlo Simi, the costumes of Graziella Virgili and Carla Seinera Bertoni, the editing by Amedeo Salfa and, especially, the cinematography by Pasquale Rachini, who makes the film a consistent visual treat.
Much of the film was shot in and around Davenport, Iowa, and captures much of the attractiveness of the state. Iowa, in fact, is involved in the production of the film, listed here as being produced by Antonio Avati for Duea Film and Union P.N. with the collaboration of Raiuno, Artisti Associati International, the state of Iowa, the city of Davenport and the Iowa Film Office, with Sacis handling international distribution.
Wide acceptance in the United States, a logical target since the film's in English with an American background, is iffy, but certainly worth a try.
If distributors and theater owners are wise, they'll also have CDs and tapes available for sale in the lobby. That's where the hefty sales will be.
BIX
(Italian)
Director Pupi Avati
Producer Antonio Avati
Writers Pupi Avati, Antonio Avati, Lino Patruno
Cinematographer Pasquale Rachini
Production designer Carlo Simi
Costume designers Graziella Virgili, Carla Seinera Bertonik
Music arranger Bob Wilber
Editor Amedeo Salfa
In English
Color
Cast:
''Bix'' Beiderbecke Bryant Weeks
Venuti Emile Levisetti
Beiderbecke Julia Ewing
Burnie Beiderbecke Mark Collver
Hoagy Carmichael Romano Luccio Orzari
Don Murray Matthew Buzzel
Bismark Ray Edelstein
Frankie Trumbauer Mark James Sovel
Marie-Louise Barbara Wilder
Lisa Sally Groth
Pee Wee Michael T. Henderson
Running time -- 111 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
If the ''Bix'' saga falls far short of any intended bull's-eye, and it does, there'll be no squawking about the music that zings, struts and vibrates in the foreground and background as the story unfolds. Recycling a wealth of old jazz tunes from the 1920s, many of them actually Beiderbecke's own, ''Bix'' is worth a visit if only to listen to what transpires when the talking stops.
If properly promoted, album sales of the soundtrack, with arrangements by Bob Wilber, could ring up some impressive totals. The movie itself may not be so lucky.
For such a downbeat tale, the film (labeled ''an interpretation of a legend'') is painted with surprisingly rosy strokes, in a glossy manner reminiscent of Hollywood musical biopics of the 1940s.
(Curiously, although made 41 years ago, Warner Bros.' ''Young Man With a Horn, '' loosely based on Beiderbecke's life and starring Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall and Doris Day, looks like a more contemporary rendition than this postcard-pretty version.)
The sunshine aspect may seem too old-fashioned for today's hipper moviegoers, and Beiderbecke devotees may find it all too lightweight a telling.
It's not to say that the film isn't entertaining; it is, although it is nowhere near a definitive inspection of the great cornetist Bix nor is it a realistic recreation of the Jazz Age in which he soared to fame before the fall.
The script by Pupi Avati, Antonio Avati and Lino Patruno fairly breezes along, hop-skipping backwards and forwards in time, but never digs lower than a chipper surface level to investigate what made the title character tick, then stop ticking.
The film opens after the premature death of Bix in 1931, then backspaces to 1924 to set up his pre-success days as an unreliable student, constantly perplexing to his small-town parents. In school he forms an alliance with Hoagy Carmichael (Romano Luccio Orzari) and Don Murray (Matthew Buzzell) that leads to the formation of a jazz band. From then on, it's a zoom to the big time, hampered only by Bix's own demons which eventually lead to his early demise.
He drinks but we're never told why. He's also unreliable, although constantly professing his desire to please both kin and friends. He's super-talented but can't hold a job. Next to blowing a horn, the most important thing in his life, he says, is to settle down, yet that seems beyond his realm. And whatever the reasons, the script keeps them secret.
He drinks but we're never told why. He's also unreliable, although constantly professing his desire to please both kin and friends. He's super-talented but can't hold a job. Next to blowing a horn, the most important thing in his life, he says, is to settle down, yet that seems beyond his realm. And whatever the reasons, the script keeps them secret., a factor that hampers ''Bix'' from flying anywhere as high as its music does.
Too bad, too, because there's much to like here in spite of the unfilled holes. The cast is fresh-faced and new, led by Bryant Weeks in the title role. He may not be quite up to the John Garfield-ish demands of this particular character, but he possesses a scrubbed likability and demeanor that should put him in good stead for other future roles.
Emile Levisetti is especially impressive as jazz violinist Joe Venuti, Bix's longtime buddy and himself a celebrated musician. He frames the story in a brief prologue and epilogue with Sally Groth, and makes his moments some of the best in the film. Orzari is also winning as Carmichael (with Carmichael's ''Stardust'' also getting a brief reprise on the soundtrack), and rest of the players are attractive and able.
Each has been given Rolls-Royce support by the art direction of Carlo Simi, the costumes of Graziella Virgili and Carla Seinera Bertoni, the editing by Amedeo Salfa and, especially, the cinematography by Pasquale Rachini, who makes the film a consistent visual treat.
Much of the film was shot in and around Davenport, Iowa, and captures much of the attractiveness of the state. Iowa, in fact, is involved in the production of the film, listed here as being produced by Antonio Avati for Duea Film and Union P.N. with the collaboration of Raiuno, Artisti Associati International, the state of Iowa, the city of Davenport and the Iowa Film Office, with Sacis handling international distribution.
Wide acceptance in the United States, a logical target since the film's in English with an American background, is iffy, but certainly worth a try.
If distributors and theater owners are wise, they'll also have CDs and tapes available for sale in the lobby. That's where the hefty sales will be.
BIX
(Italian)
Director Pupi Avati
Producer Antonio Avati
Writers Pupi Avati, Antonio Avati, Lino Patruno
Cinematographer Pasquale Rachini
Production designer Carlo Simi
Costume designers Graziella Virgili, Carla Seinera Bertonik
Music arranger Bob Wilber
Editor Amedeo Salfa
In English
Color
Cast:
''Bix'' Beiderbecke Bryant Weeks
Venuti Emile Levisetti
Beiderbecke Julia Ewing
Burnie Beiderbecke Mark Collver
Hoagy Carmichael Romano Luccio Orzari
Don Murray Matthew Buzzel
Bismark Ray Edelstein
Frankie Trumbauer Mark James Sovel
Marie-Louise Barbara Wilder
Lisa Sally Groth
Pee Wee Michael T. Henderson
Running time -- 111 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 5/16/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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