King of Jazz [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: J. Murray Anderson, John Murray Anderson J. Murray Anderson

Overview

Intended as Universal Pictures' entry in the "all-star musical" cycle of the early talkie era, King of Jazz is certainly the most elaborate of the bunch, though far from the most successful financially. Staged by Broadway impresario John Murray Anderson, the film is held together by the charismatic personality of rotund bandleader Paul Whiteman. The show begins with a Walter Lantz cartoon wherein it is recalled how Whiteman earned the title of the King of Jazz (Lantz's animated star Oswald Rabbit makes a brief appearance). Then Whiteman appears in the flesh (and plenty of it), coaxing his miniaturized orchestra out of a small box. The film then assumes the traditional revue format, with brief comedy sketches featuring such Universal contractees as Laura LaPlante and Slim Summerville interspersed with some of the most spectacular production numbers ever captured on film. The musical talent includes John Boles, the Rhythm Boys (with Bing Crosby), and "swing" violinist Joe Venuti. Highlights include a full-length "picturization" of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" (with Gershwin look-alike Roy Bargy at the piano), the surrealistic "Happy Feet," the splendiferous "Bridal Veil," and the gargantuan "Melting Pot" finale. The current Technicolor negative of King of Jazz, lovingly assembled from pristine original prints and battered dupes, runs 93 minutes -- some 12 minutes short of the film's original length.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/27/2018
UPC:	0715515212618
Original Release:	1930
Rating:	NR
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	14,292

Special Features

New 4k digital restoration by Universal Pictures, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; 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 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 ad 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; Plus: An essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bing Crosby	Himself (member of The Rhythm Boys)
John Boles	Guest
Laura La Plante	Herself
Glenn Tryon	Actor
Paul Whiteman	Actor
Jeanette Loff	Actor
Merna Kennedy	Actor
Kathryn Crawford	Actor
George 'Slim' Summerville	Actor,Actor
Stanley Smith	Actor
Billy Kent	Actor,Actor
Grace Hayes	Actor
Wilbur Hall	Actor
John Fulton	Actor
George Chiles	Actor
Jacques Cartier	Actor
Al Norman	Actor
Frank Leslie	Actor
Jeanie Lang	Actor
Charles Irwin	Actor
Paul Howard	Actor
Marian Statler	Actor
Don Rose	Actor
Neil O'Day	Actor
Harry Barris	Actor
Al Rinker	Actor
Walter Brennan	Himself
John Arledge	Actor
Churchill Ross	Actor
Jack White	Actor
Richard Cromwell	Bit Part
Joan Marsh	Bit
George Gershwin	Composer
Billy Rose	Composer
Mabel Wayne	Composer
Milton Ager	Composer

Technical Credits

Charles MacArthur

Harry Ruskin

J. Murray Anderson	Director,Director
Carl Laemmle Jr.	Producer
Charles MacArthur	Screenwriter
Harry Ruskin	Screenwriter