King of Jazz, The

Synopsis

Made during the early years of the movie musical, this was one of the most extravagant, eclectic, and technically ambitious Hollywood productions of its day. Starring the bandleader Paul Whiteman, then widely celebrated as the King of Jazz, the film drew from Broadway variety shows to present a spectacular array of sketches, including performances by John Boles, Bing Crosby (in his first screen appearance) and silent comedienne Laura La Plante. Restored to its original early-Technicolor glory, the film offers a snapshot of the way mainstream American popular culture viewed itself at the dawn of the 1930s.
Special Features:
-New audio commentary featuring jazz and film critic Gary Giddins, music and cultural critic Gene Seymour, and musician and bandleader Vince Giordano
-New introduction to the film by Gary Giddins
-New interview with musician and pianist Michael Feinstein
-Four new video essays by authors and archivists James Layton and David Pierce on the development and making of King of Jazz
-Deleted scenes and alternate opening title sequence
-All Americans, a 1929 short film featuring a version of the "Melting Pot" number that was restaged for King of Jazz
-I Know Everybody and Everybody’s Racket, a 1933 short film featuring Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
-Two Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons from 1930, featuring music and animation from King of Jazz
-An essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme

Language

English (United States)

Country

United States

Year of release

1930

Notes

DVD Region 1 NTSC.

Subjects

Film studies; American Studies

Keywords

jazz; jazz bands; United States of America; 1930s; Crosby, Bing (1903-1977); Boles, John (1895-1969); La Plante, Laura (1904-1996); Whiteman, Paul (1890-1967)

Credits

Director

Thomas Anderson Murray

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

BR Region B, Blu-Ray DVD

Price

$31.96; $23.96

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

98 minutes

Year

2018

Distributor

Name

Criterion Films

Email

http://www.criterion.com/order_support

Web

http://www.criterion.com/ External site opens in new window

Address

Attn: Jon Mulvaney
215 Park Avenue South, Fifth Floor
New York
NY
10003
USA