scott joplin movie
rik...@worldaccess.nl
I know there is a movie made about the life of Scott Joplin.
Can anyone give me the name, director and producer. I also would like to know
if it is available on video tape.
Neal Lavon
In article <N.062496....@sht1-9.worldaccess.nl>,
rik...@worldaccess.nl wrote:
The movie is called "Scott Joplin" and stars Billy Dee Williams as Scott
Joplin and Art Carney as John Stark. It was produced by the Motown Company
and I'd have to run the thing through te VCR again to get the exact names
of director and producer.
I taped it off television several years ago, I've never seen it offered on
video tape. I heard it's shown at the Scott Joplin House in St. Louis on
special occasions. It's long on drama, short on facts and, as I remember,
it has lots of hokey scenes.
For instance, Joplin (Williams) gets furious that John Phillip Sousa gets
heavy-duty ink in the Chicago papers for his performance during the World's
Fair while Joplin's musical contribution is relegated to a mere mention.
His retort: "I'll show 'em! I'll write an opera!" To which Art Carney
replies, "You, sir, are a genius!" The dialogue is a lot like that.
Some of the creative conflicts between Joplin and Stark are highlighted and
there is a touching scene of the now-Ed Berlin-blasted myth about the death
of Joplin's daughter born to Belle Hayden. At least, I think Dr. Berlin
blew that myth away, I'll have to re-read "King of Ragtime Writers" again
to make sure, but not at this hour!
There's some great ragtime scenes though with lots of good playing--I
believe the pianist is Dick Hyman--and the "Treemonisha" scenes, with a
perfectly horrible amateur bunch of singers (oddly enough, they're
Caucasian!) attempting to get through "Marching Onward" while Joplin
angrily berates them, is also pretty good.
Like I said, it's pretty late now but hopefully tomorrow night I can run
the opening credits through the VCR and supply the exact info you wanted.
BTW, the movie was made in 1977.
Neal Lavon
Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
"No good deed goes unpunished."
Mary Haley
>>I know there is a movie made about the life of Scott Joplin.
>>Can anyone give me the name, director and producer. I also would like to know
>>if it is available on video tape.
>>
>
>The movie is called "Scott Joplin" and stars Billy Dee Williams as Scott
>Joplin and Art Carney as John Stark. It was produced by the Motown Company
>and I'd have to run the thing through te VCR again to get the exact names
>of director and producer.
>
>I taped it off television several years ago, I've never seen it offered on
>video tape. I heard it's shown at the Scott Joplin House in St. Louis on
>special occasions. It's long on drama, short on facts and, as I remember,
>it has lots of hokey scenes.
> .
> .
> .
>Like I said, it's pretty late now but hopefully tomorrow night I can run
>the opening credits through the VCR and supply the exact info you wanted.
>BTW, the movie was made in 1977.
>
>
>Neal Lavon
>Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
>"No good deed goes unpunished."
I found this movie listed in the Internet Movie Database. Here's some
more info on it:
Scott Joplin (1977)
USA 1977 Color
Language(s): English
Certification: USA:PG
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directed by
Jeremy Paul Kagan
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Margaret Avery
Godfrey Cambridge
Art Carney
Seymour Cassel
Clifton Davis
Billy Dee Williams
Cinematography by
David M. Walsh
I agree that there are some hokey scenes in it, but it does have good
music! I'd really like to see a *new* movie done now that we have
more accurate information on Joplin, thanks to Ed Berlin!
Since we're on the subject of movies, has anybody seen "Crumb"? The
movie itself is not about ragtime, but it has a few ragtime numbers in
it, and opens with "Ragtime Nightingale" by Joe Lamb. The soundtrack
includes other ragtime pieces like "Sensation", "Frog-I-More Rag",
"Buffalo Rag", "Rag Pickings", "Black Diamond Rag", "Wall Street Rag",
and "A Real Slow Drag". There are some other ragtime pieces as
well as jazz and blues.
Mary
Jen Harper jones
Hey!
I was just speaking to a friend about this movie two days ago. We
couldn't come up with the name of the actress who played Scott Joplin's
wife Belle. Do you know the name of that actress?
Thanks,
Jen
Oleg Mezjuev
Hi!
I found one movie about Scott Joplin's life. Here you have everything
I found about it:
SCOTT JOPLIN (1977), Color, Length 96 minutes, the grades varies
from 2,5 to 3,5 on a scale from 1-5.
Review the life of Scott Joplin, one of the most popular composers
of ragtime music. Well-made, colorful but down-beat life story of
famed ragtime composer. Made for TV, then given fitful theatrical
release. Best sequence: the barrelhouse piano "duel". This movie
is available on a videocassette. Parental Guidance Suggested:
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Category: Documentary
Genres: Biography, Musical, Documentary, Music
Flags: Questionable Family Film
Studio: Motown
Country: USA
Plot Elements: Biography
Production Styles: For TV
Cast:
Margaret Avery Belle Joplin
Eubie Blake Will Williams
Godfrey Cambridge Tom Turpin
Art Carney John Stark
Seymour Cassel Dr. Jaelki
Leon Charles
The Commodores
Clifton Davis Louis Chauvin
Samuel Fuller Theater Impresario
Denise Gordy Prostitute
David Healy
David Hubbard
DeWayne Jessie John the Baptist
Mabel King Madam Amy
Taj Mahal Poor Alfred
Fred Pinkard
Spo-De-Odee Left Hand of God
Billy Dee Williams Scott Joplin
Credits:
William M. Hiney, Jr. Art Director
Michael Peters Choreography
Bernard Johnson Costumes
Jeremy Kagan Director
Patrick Kennedy Film Editor
Scott Joplin Composer
Dick Hyman Music Director
Harold Johsnon Music and Lyrics
Michael Hancock Makeup
David M. Walsh Cinematographer
Stan Hough Producer
James Payne Set Decoration
Christopher Knopf Screenwriter
If you would like to get additional information about the Scott Joplin-
movie, I warmly recommend the The Internet Movie Database at Mississippi
US. The URL is:
http://www.msstate.edu/Movies/
Maybe you will find where to order the videocassette of this movie.
Good luck in finding it!
Beside this film there are some other movies which include the music
of Scott Joplin. They are:
The Sting (1973) 129 mins., R. Redford, P. Newman. D: George Roy Hill
Pretty Baby (1978) 109 mins., Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon, Brooke
Shield D: Louis Malle
Titanic (1979) An English TV-film about the Titanic-disaster. Includes
"Bethena" and other works of Joplin.
The Sting II (1983) 102 mins., Jackie Gleason, Mac Davies, Karl Malden
D: Jeremy Paul Kagan
Regards,
Oleg Mezjuev
oleg.m...@mailbox.swipnet.se
Oleg Mezjuev
Hi again!
The name of this actress was Margaret Avery.
Regards,
Oleg Mezjuev
oleg.m...@mailbox.swipnet.se
Oleg Mezjuev
Hi Mary!
The following is what I have found about "Crumb":
___________________________________________________________________
CRUMB (1994), Lenght: 1:59
Synopsis: This documentary offers an ultimate look into the weird
life and family dynamics of Robert Crumb, the renowned underground
artist for Zap Cornix. Appearing in the film are number of people
involved in Crumb's life including his mother and two brothers.
(Two of Crumb's sisters declined to appear in the documentary.)
The film narrated by brother Charles details the effects Robert's
early experiences had on his art, including his sexual fantasies,
his drug use, and his father's abuse. The documentary also looks at
Crumb current life in a French chateau which he obtained in exchange
for six of his sketchbooks. To this day, R. Crumb and his kin retain
committed to life on society's fringe. For some, like Robert, it is
a choice; for others it is a disturbing tragedy.
Category: Documentary
Gengres: Biography, Documentary
Credits:
Neil Halfon Co-Producer
Terry Zwigoff Director
Victor Livingston Film Editor
Scott Breindel Music Director
Maryse Allberti Cinematographer
Albert Berger Producer
Lianne Halfon Producer
Lynn O'Donnell Producer
Lawrence Wilkinson Producer
Terry Zwigoff Producer
_____________________________________________________________________
I haven't seen the movie but if this is the same movie that you meant,
then I am surprised that there are that many rags in it!
Regards,
Neal Lavon
>I know there is a movie made about the life of Scott Joplin.
>Can anyone give me the name, director and producer. I also would like to know
>if it is available on video tape.
>
>
>
Well, here's some more info on the Scott Joplin movie:
Starring:
Billy Dee Williams
Clifton Davis
Margaret Avery
Godfrey Cambridge
Art Carney
Seymour Cassell
Mabel King
also Taj Mahal and Eubie Blake
Exec. Producer: Rob Cohen
Producer: Stan Hough
Script: Christopher Knopf
Director: Jeremy Paul Kagan
Mary Haley
In article <4qmoke$6...@mn5.swip.net> Oleg Mezjuev <oleg.m...@mailbox.swipnet.se> writes:
>Hi Mary!
>
>The following is what I have found about "Crumb":
>___________________________________________________________________
>
>.
>.
>.
>_____________________________________________________________________
>
>I haven't seen the movie but if this is the same movie that you meant,
>then I am surprised that there are that many rags in it!
>
>Regards,
>
>Oleg
Indeed, this is the movie I'm talking about. Apparently Crumb enjoyed
listening to ragtime, and claims that when he is listening to his old
records is when he finds himself closest to humanity (or something
like that). If you saw the movie, you'd understand why he makes a
statement like this!
If anybody is interested in the track listing for the Crumb CD, you
can check out the URL:
http://www.ragtimers.org/artists/crumb.html
David Boeddinghaus and Craig Ventresco performed most of the pieces
on this CD.
Mary
Andrew Homzy
In article <ADF554EA...@nlavon.his.com>, nla...@his.com (Neal Lavon)
wrote:
> Well, here's some more info on the Scott Joplin movie:
Is it available commercially?
--
Andrew Homzy
Music Department
Concordia University, Montreal
Andrew Homzy
I met Robert Crumb when I was in Cleveland in 1961, a Sophmore in High
School. He deeply loved early jazz and was in the process of finishing his
sketches for a new cartoon series which became Fritz The Cat. I knew his
roomate, Marty Pahl, much better but they both introduced me to the likes
of Louis, Bix, Smack and even Chet. The last time I met Crumb was in the
late 60s: He was still in C-land writing verse for American Greeting Cards
but on the verge of a more exotic career path.