This is a 15 minute short film made in 1934 that is more of an interest to musicians and musicologists that film buffs. It focuses around a public crier, "Mr. Blue Laws," denouncing jazz music to the public. Another gentleman, "Mr. Public Opinion," steps up to join Blue Laws' crusade against jazz. The two 'crash' a night club hosting jazz and we follow their pursuit to stamp out the evil jazz that has been responsible for wiping out the Waltz and the 'Two-Step.' After being cornered, the band, helped by a group of 'rhythm dancers," vows to play to the end proclaiming their love of jazz. Very surreal for the time.
Nearly the entire 15 minutes is filled with big band style jazz music laced with poetic, almost beat-like dialogue. The short film seems to show a change in generations, reflecting on what probably went on in the late twenties musically (yet this is '34).....and the public acceptance of 'jazz' and swing as popular forms of music (especially brought to the masses by "talking" pictures only a few years earlier).
The film definitely was made to get a personal opinion across. The first scene with "Mr. Blue Laws" shows him in his moral crusade against jazz, walking past a drug store....which just seems a bit too coincidental...and many cliches abound....and if it weren't for the ending, I'd say this were a public service announcement warning against the sub-culture of jazz......with Mr. Blue Laws representing those for prohibition and Mr. Public Opinion, or the mainstream listener, stuck in the middle.
The music is a pleasure. It really reflects the acceptance of early jazz, and really swing, into the mainstream and clearly into Hollywood and therefore a slice of American music history. All of the faces in this film are white, which sadly does not properly reflect American jazz history. But it does seem to mark the first acceptance of jazz into "white society" on film.
And check out the early special effects as Mr. Public Opinion speaks...the pedestrians disappear behind him....nice for a short film.
Nearly the entire 15 minutes is filled with big band style jazz music laced with poetic, almost beat-like dialogue. The short film seems to show a change in generations, reflecting on what probably went on in the late twenties musically (yet this is '34).....and the public acceptance of 'jazz' and swing as popular forms of music (especially brought to the masses by "talking" pictures only a few years earlier).
The film definitely was made to get a personal opinion across. The first scene with "Mr. Blue Laws" shows him in his moral crusade against jazz, walking past a drug store....which just seems a bit too coincidental...and many cliches abound....and if it weren't for the ending, I'd say this were a public service announcement warning against the sub-culture of jazz......with Mr. Blue Laws representing those for prohibition and Mr. Public Opinion, or the mainstream listener, stuck in the middle.
The music is a pleasure. It really reflects the acceptance of early jazz, and really swing, into the mainstream and clearly into Hollywood and therefore a slice of American music history. All of the faces in this film are white, which sadly does not properly reflect American jazz history. But it does seem to mark the first acceptance of jazz into "white society" on film.
And check out the early special effects as Mr. Public Opinion speaks...the pedestrians disappear behind him....nice for a short film.
