Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on December 05, 2004 at 06:29:55

Jack Webb stars, directs, and narrates this story of a 1920's jazz musician and his relationships with socialite Janet Leigh (really too busty for a flapper), gangster Edward O'Brien, and alcoholic singer Peggy lee. Lee Marvin has a small part as a fellow musician who makes it big and Ella Fitzgerald is there for a moment toward the end. Webb's narration is sardonic, much in the "Dragnet" style ("He went to Chicago and caught a piece of the flu" ; "He was a frail sort of a guy, put a extra button on his vest and he'd fall over"). Real traditional jazz musicians were used and an LP was relesed containing the music. The film was shot in early 2:55 x 1 Cinemascope. Good sound for the time and good color, as well (although not real Technicolor they processed the film).