The Polka King (2017)

Local Pennsylvania polka legend Jan Lewan develops a plan to get rich that shocks his fans and lands him in jail.

Director:

Maya Forbes

Writers:

Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky

Stars:

Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Black	...	Jan Lewan
Jenny Slate	...	Marla Lewan
Jason Schwartzman	...	Mickey Pizzazz
Jacki Weaver	...	Barb
J.B. Smoove	...	Ron Edwards (as JB Smoove)
Robert Capron	...	David Lewan
Willie Garson	...	Lonny
Vanessa Bayer	...	Bitsy Bear
Robert Macaux	...	Christopher
Mary Klug	...	Anita Krzyewski
Wallace Wolodarsky	...	Vince (as Wally Wolodarsky)
Lew Schneider	...	Lou Laroue
Phyllis Kay	...	Marilyn
Richard Donelly	...	Stan Moetek
Kati Salowsky	...	Connie Klopski

Storyline

Local Pennsylvania polka legend Jan Lewan develops a plan to get rich that shocks his fans and lands him in jail.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | f rated | 

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Taglines:

The greatest scandal in polka history.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Man Who Would Be Polka King

Filming Locations:

Rhode Island, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ShivHans Pictures, Electric Dynamite, Permut Presentations

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Jan Lewan Orchestra members; Steve Saive Trumpet, Bob Lugiano Trumpet, Scott Shirk Saxophone, and Stephen Kaminski Saxophone, recorded the movie soundtrack at Avatar studios along with Jan Lewan who was coaching Jack Black on his vocals.

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Goofs

When Mickey picks Jan up from prison, his car has a Pennsylvania front license plate. Pennsylvania only issues a single plate that is placed on the rear of the car.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jan Lewan: [narrating] When I was little boy in Poland, all the times, I dreaming of America. So I come, I work hard, and I climb to the highest stars.
Jan Lewan: [on stage singing] Oh, la, la; Ole, ole, ole, ole; O la-di, o la-la; Ole, ole, ole, ole; O la-di, o la-la Let's go!

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Connections

References Donny & Marie (1997)

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Soundtracks

More Is My Love
Written and Arranged by Stephen Kaminski
Performed by Jack Black

User Reviews

A Grammy-nominated con artist gets the Black treatment

1/29/18. Jack Black seems to have a knack for playing real life creeps, like Bernie Tiede in Bernie, the undertaker who embezzled $3 million from a wealthy widow after killing her. In this movie, Black plays the con artist, Jan Lewan, a Polka entertainer who pulled a Bernie Madoff on his many unsuspecting fans. Lewan sucked millions from people who were entranced by his ebullient personality. Black did a great job with this role.