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Pete Kelly's Blues

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:45
1 Video
66 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Music

In 1927, a Kansas City, Missouri cornet player and his band perform nightly at a seedy speakeasy until a racketeer tries to extort them in exchange for protection.In 1927, a Kansas City, Missouri cornet player and his band perform nightly at a seedy speakeasy until a racketeer tries to extort them in exchange for protection.In 1927, a Kansas City, Missouri cornet player and his band perform nightly at a seedy speakeasy until a racketeer tries to extort them in exchange for protection.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Webb
  • Writer
    • Richard L. Breen
  • Stars
    • Jack Webb
    • Janet Leigh
    • Edmond O'Brien
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Webb
  • Writer
    • Richard L. Breen
  • Stars
    • Jack Webb
    • Janet Leigh
    • Edmond O'Brien
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:45
    Official Trailer

    Photos66

    Jack Webb, Dorothy Towne "Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955) 3648-0103 0048484
    Peggy Lee publicity portrait fo "Pete Kelly's Blues", 1955
    Peggy Lee "Pete Kelly's Blues" 1955 Warner
    Jack Webb Behind the scenes. "Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955) 3648-0104 0048484
    Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Janet Leigh and Jack Webb in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Janet Leigh in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Jack Webb in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Janet Leigh and Jack Webb in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
    Janet Leigh and Jack Webb in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Webb
    Jack Webb
    • Pete Kellyas Pete Kelly
    Janet Leigh
    Janet Leigh
    • Ivy Conradas Ivy Conrad
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Fran McCargas Fran McCarg
    Peggy Lee
    Peggy Lee
    • Rose Hopkinsas Rose Hopkins
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • George Tenellas George Tenell
    Lee Marvin
    Lee Marvin
    • Al Gannawayas Al Gannaway
    Ella Fitzgerald
    Ella Fitzgerald
    • Maggie Jacksonas Maggie Jackson
    Martin Milner
    Martin Milner
    • Joey Firestoneas Joey Firestone
    Than Wyenn
    • Rudy Shulakas Rudy Shulak
    Herbert Ellis
    • Bedidoas Bedido
    • (as Herb Ellis)
    John Dennis
    John Dennis
    • Guy Bettenhouseras Guy Bettenhouser
    Jayne Mansfield
    Jayne Mansfield
    • Cigarette Girlas Cigarette Girl
    Mort Marshall
    Mort Marshall
    • Cootie Jacobsas Cootie Jacobs
    Moe Schneider
    • Trombonist (Big 7)as Trombonist (Big 7)
    George Van Eps
    • Guitarist (Big 7)as Guitarist (Big 7)
    Ray Sherman
    • Pianist (Big 7)as Pianist (Big 7)
    Matty Matlock
    • Clarinetist (Big 7)as Clarinetist (Big 7)
    Eddie Miller
    Eddie Miller
    • Saxophonist (Big 7)as Saxophonist (Big 7)
    • Director
      • Jack Webb
    • Writer
      • Richard L. Breen
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1927 Kansas City, Pete Kelly and his jazz band play nightly at a speakeasy. A local gangster starts to move in on them and when their drummer is killed Kelly gives in, although this also means taking the thug's alcoholic girl as a singer. Kelly soon realizes he has made a big mistake selling out in this way, and that rich girl Ivy is now the only decent thing in his life. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
    • kansas city missouri
    • psychotronic film
    • jazz
    • male male relationship
    • male female relationship
    • 38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • All the Drama...Color...Glamor of the Exciting Jazz-Mad 20's!...with its great music, flappers, quick money!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jack Webb actually knew how to play the cornet. He loved jazz music and, as a boy, was given a cornet by a musician who lived near his home. While he never truly mastered the instrument, he knew it well enough that his handling and fingering of the cornet in this movie is accurate.
    • Quotes

      Maggie Jackson: [singing] They call her Hard Hearted Hannah, The vamp of Savannah, The meanest gal in town; Talk of your cold, refrigeratin' mamas, Brother, she's a polar bear's pajamas! To tease 'em, and thrill 'em, to torture and kill 'em, Is her delight, they say, An evening spent with Hannah sittin' on your knees, Is like travelin' through Alaska in your BVDs...

    • Crazy credits
      "In the screenplay by Richard L. Breen" appears before the film's title.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Colgate Comedy Hour: Tribute to Jerry Ross & Dick Adler (1955)
    • Soundtracks
      Just a Closer Walk with Thee
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Sung by choir of Israelite Spiritual Church, New Orleans

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    The hole in the donut
    This was Jack Webb's labor of love and his big shot at big screen stardom. Humphrey Bogart was aging, (and soon to die), and perhaps Webb saw himself as an heir to his thrown. He certainly was a lover of everything about the 1920's into which he was born and of the jazz of the time in particular. He was a competent actor, (quite good in 1950's "The Men", opposite Marlon Brando) but ultimately lacked the presence and ability necessary for stardom. he we see him completely outacted by two who did, Edmund O'Brien and Lee Marvin, (who would have been a fabulous choice to play Pete Kelly). Webb seems trapped in his Joe Friday characterization. Particularly poor his the scene where he first confronts O'Brien, as gangster McClarg, in anger. Kelly, (Webb), knocks out McClarg's henchmen. McClarg then breaks a bottle on the bar and offers Kelly a chance to beat him to it. Kelly then shrinks into intimidation and sulks out. The scene is preposterous to begin with: why would Kelly be intimidated by McClarg when he's just kayoed hi body guard? But Webb clearly has no idea how to play it. He just stars blankly at O'Brien, then turns around and, hunched over and with his arms dangling lifelessly at his side, he marches out stage left while the music swells up to convey Kelly's humiliation to us much more effectively than Webb does.

    Where Webb really excelled was as a director. He opens this with a shot of a New Orleans jazz funeral. Period detail is exquisite throughout. The dialog is snappy and authentic. The music, of course is great if jazz is to your taste. Any film with both Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald singing in it is work a listen. This one is worth a look, as well. There are great camera shots, particularly when one of Kelly's associates gets gunned down in an alley. The final confrontation is exciting and well-staged. As noted below, it was clearly influential to modern directors. The cast of the film is uniformly excellent except for Webb himself. Peggy Lee is great and one wonders why a significant acting career didn't follow. O'Brien, in a rare villain role, is forceful without the overacting he's often guilty of. Marvin dominates every scene he's in and Martin Milner, a much underrated actor, is excellent in an early role as well. Andy Devine is a revelation as a tough cop. You've got to see it to believe it. Janet Leigh appears as Kelly's girlfriend. She's essentially window dressing but very attractive window dressing. But it's hard to tell what attracted her to Kelly. Webb is so stiff an uncomfortable in their romantic scenes that their relationship is hardly credible.

    This film would probably be regarded as a classic today if Webb had not insisted on playing the lead, but who can blame him? It was his big chance on the big screen. He created an exquisite donut to star in. But this donut had a hole in it and he was that hole.
    helpful•35
    15
    • schappe1
    • Jun 9, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 31, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Es geschah in einer Nacht
    • Filming locations
      • Fleming Plantation, Lafitte, Louisiana, USA
    • Production company
      • Mark VII Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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