PETE KELLY'S BLUES

US, 1955, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Edmond O’ Brien, Lee Marvin, Ella Fitzgerald, Jayne Mansfield, Andy Devine.
Directed by Jack Webb.

A musical gangster film. It has a lot of jazz music played by Pete Kelly and his musicians. There is also singing by Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. The plot concerns musicians in the prohibition era and their being managed by gangster groups. There are the inevitable violent clashes.

This was one of the earliest Cinemascope films and was directed by its star Jack Webb, responsible for the 'Dragnet' series. The screenplay is reminiscent of that series and its first person narrative. The heroine is Janet Leigh in an unusual role for her at this period. Edmund O' Brien is the villain. The film is a mixture of the conventional with moments of musical interest. Lee Marvin has a sympathetic role as a musician. The main attraction is Ella's music.

1. A piece of Americana, the fifties remembering the twenties? The jazz heritage of American music? beat, rhythms, popularity, how well re-created is the mood? The jazz and the twenties? Prohibition, ganisters? (did the screenplay blend these elements?

2. A film of the fifties, Cinemascope and colour, locations, period and decor?

3. The contribution of the score: the blues, the theme melody, the lyrics, the variety of songs from the period, Lee and Ella Fitzgerald? The interweaving of the songs and score throughout the gangster plot?

4. The picture of prohibition days? The background legislation, the police, the exploitation by gangsters? The tone of prohibition days and lawlessness and violence? Pressures, protection, gangsters and exploitation?

5. The importance of American music and of jazz? the opening sequence, the funeral and the introduction to Pete Kelly and his hopes? His skill, musical talent? the introduction to this period of his life (representing the ordinary American in this period)? Challenges, pressures, compromise, the hardships of life? The sustaining music?

6. The picture of Pete Kelly and his ensemble, their jobs, the speakeasies, the atmosphere of Kansas City? Parties and various job opportunities? Mc Carey and his decisions, influence, pressures? The counter meetings of the musicians? The importance of the percentages paid to the gangsters for protection? The violence perpetrated by the gangsters in order to gain the protection fees? Jelly Firestone and his clash with Mc Carthy, his being gunned down? Musicians trying to survive in this atmosphere?

7. The speakeasies, their atmosphere, the manager and the irony about his money-saving? The people who went there, the disguising of the liquor? The impossible police raids? Mc Carey as a type, his power, power hungry? Brutality and threats? How well was this illustrated in his feelings with Rose and his pressurising her, his abuse of her and violence, making audiences listen to her? The final confrontation, the betrayal by his associates, the irony of his death?

8. The contrast with the world of Ivy - wealth, extravagant parties, drinking? her presence at the speakeasy, her infatuation with Pete and buying him for the party, the dance and the falling into the pool? her continuous pursuit of him, proposals of marriage? his attitude towards her, love, pushing her away for example when she went to his apartment? The break? her following him, sharing in the danger? A woman of Kansas City of the twenties?

9. Rose and her association with Mc Carey, her drinking, her explanation of her story, her wanting a daughter? her singing, the fear fund? the response? The violence and her going mad in the asylum, playing with the doll, giving the information to Pete Kelly?

10. Clubs and "Fat Annie's" as a rendezvous for the meetings? The various attitudes of the musicians when confronted by the gangsters?

11. The character of A1 and his role as musician, friend of Pete, in the car with the pursuit and the crash, his leaving, and being tired of violence, the clash about Pete's surrendering and compromise, the bond? Joey and his brashness and his death?

12. Surviving in this kind of period? A picture of the American battlers and the violent American heritage?