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Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog (1998)
An American Icon or Iconoclast?
Charles Mingus, one of the most creative forces in American 20th Century music, is examined in depth through archive footage and interviews with two former wives and numerous former bandmates. The music of Charles Mingus goes beyond simple categorization. Schooled in classical music, with his early professional exposure in the Los Angeles swing scene, Mingus moved through numerous styles, working with the major innovaters, such as Bud Powell, Charles Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, & Eric Dolphy. A volatile personality, his gentle and extreme sides are both in view. My favorite scenes are of Mingus' responses to stupid questions. By the end of this film, even those people who do not appreciate jazz will agree to Charles Mingus' place as one of the finest composers & musicians in American history.
The Scarecrow (1920)
Classic early Keaton short with big Joe Roberts taking on the "Fatty" Arbuckle characterization.
This is a classic early Keaton short, filmed the year Buster took over Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckles' production team - "Fatty" had moved on to feature films for Paramount - with big Joe Roberts taking on the Roscoe characterization. Worth viewing for the opening sequence alone, which shows Buster's fondness for the creation of gadgets that turn into great sight gags. Also noteworthy for the appearance of Buster's father Joe Keaton Jr. as the pugnacious farmer. An excellent introduction to Keaton's work for anyone unfamiliar with his unique style. You will find it all here: they called him the great stone face, but watch how expressive he is with his eyes. And no one could run the way Buster ran.