King of Jazz (1930)

American Pre-Code color film starring Paul Whiteman and his Jazz orchestra.

Directors:

John Murray Anderson, Walter Lantz (uncredited)

Writer:

Harry Ruskin (comedy sketches)

Stars:

Paul Whiteman, John Boles, Laura La Plante

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Whiteman	...	Paul Whiteman
John Boles	...	Vocalist ('Song of the Dawn' / 'It Happened in Monterey')
Laura La Plante	...	Editor ('Ladies of the Press') / Stenographer ('In Conference') / Quartet Member, 'Nellie'
Jeanette Loff	...	Vocalist ('It Happened in Monterey' / 'Bridal Veil' / 'A Bench in the Park')
Glenn Tryon	...	Executive ('In Conference') / Unmarried Husband / Husband ('A Dash of Spice')
William Kent	...	General ('All Noisy on the Eastern Front') / Goldfish Owner ('Oh! Forevermore!') / Unmarried Couple's Offspring / Meek Husband ('Do Things For You') / Man in Closet ('A Dash of Spice')
Slim Summerville	...	Automobile Owner ('Springtime') / Rear End of Horse / Charles
The Rhythm Boys	...	Vocal Group
Kathryn Crawford	...	Fourth Reporter ('Ladies of the Press') / Wife ('A Dash of Spice')
Carla Laemmle	...	Chorine (as Beth Laemmle)
Stanley Smith	...	Bridegroom ('Bridal Veil' / 'A Bench in the Park')
George Chiles	...	Dancer ('It Happened in Monterey' / Vocalist 'A Bench in the Park' / 'Ragamuffin Romeo')
Jack White	...	Jack White
Frank Leslie	...	Quartet Lead Singer ('Nellie')
Walter Brennan	...	Desk Sergeant ('Springtime') / Soldier ('All Noisy on the Eastern Front') / Waiter ('Oh! Forevermore!') / Front End of Horse / Quartet Member ('Nellie')

Storyline

This revue presents its numbers around the orchestra leader Paul Whiteman, besides that it shows in it's final number that the European popular music are the roots of American popular music, called Jazz.

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Plot Keywords:

revue | national film registry | formerly lost film | bridal veil | wedding veil | 

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Taglines:

A Red-Hot Riot of Life, Love and Laughter! (Print Ad- Edmonton Journal, ((Edmonton, Alta.)) 31 July 1930)

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The production costs for the film included 24 cars that were purchased for members of Paul Whiteman and Orchestra for use while the band was in Los Angeles. Each vehicle (which cost up to $900) featured a custom canvas spare tire cover emblazoned with Paul Whiteman's image. The cars sat idle in storage for two months between the first and second trips the band made out to California for filming.

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Goofs

The Rhythm Boys and The Sisters G sing Yellen & Ager's " Happy FEET". But the number is introduced in a stop-motion sequence with the title "Happy SHOES".

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Quotes

Announcer: You don't mean to tell me that you are well-versed in the intricacies of the art of Terpsichore?
Paul Whiteman: No, but I can dance.

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Alternate Versions

The 1933 re-release added a few brief, newly-filmed comedy sketches along with slightly revised opening credits, but removed nearly 35 minutes of footage in return. These added scenes are bonus material on the 2018 Criterion release. Prior to 2016, most prints ran about 93 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire: A Couple of Song and Dance Men (1975)

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Soundtracks

Song of the Volga Boatmen
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed during the Melting Pot of Music production number

User Reviews

Entertaining bit of history

Unique qualities of this early musical include the fact that it's both in color and sound! I had previously understood that prior to 1935 this was technically or chemically impossible. The two-color Technicolor was not new (Ben-Hur, for example) but it does add richness after you get used to it. Really interesting (to me, at least) to see the VERY young Bing Crosby singing as part of the Rhythm Boys. Whiteman's orchestra does Rhapsody in Blue when it was still a new piece. Comedy acts are corny and quaint. The big production numbers were lavish and very new; some seemed experimental and fresh. They didn't yet know just what to do with a musical-entertainment movie, so they just threw in some of everything that was popular on stage at the time, done by some very talented performers.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

The King of Jazz Revue

Filming Locations:

Stage 12, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1