This page contains the film scope of the leading jazz
musicians in the history of jazz. This is a recent addition to jazz on
film and is still being built. Some of jazz' greatest figures never appeared
on film and others such as Charlie Parker only have a few minutes of screen
time to their name.
At present the following jazzers are featured on this page, but is being
added to, on a regular basis. (F) FEATURE FILM • (D) DOCU •
(STO) SOUND TRACK ONLY. See these pages for more details on films
youtube.com has become an invaluable source of material.
Enter any jazz musician into youtube and there is a good
chance someone has posted a clip of them.
ART PEPPER See Art Pepper on docu page
ARTIE SHAW
Artie Shaw and his Orchestra • USA • 1939 • 9 mins
With Tony Pastor (tnr and Vocals)
Artie Shaw’s Class in Swing • USA • 1939 • 10 mins
With Buddy Rich, Helen Forrest (vcls) Georgie Auld and Tony Pastor (tnr and Vocals)
Dancing Co-Ed • USA • 1939 • 84 mins
Same personnel as above
Artie Shaw and his Orchestra in Symphony in Swing • USA • 1939 •10 mins
Same personnel as above. Below, Helen Forrest sings Deep Purple.
Second Chorus • USA • 1940 • 83 min
Artie Shaw: Time is All You’re Got • USA • 1986 • 115 mins
Oscar winning docu by Brigitte Berman. Interviews with Buddy Rich, Mel Torme,Helen Forrest
ART TATUM
THE FABULOUS DORSEYS (F)
USA 1947 • 87 mins • Directed by Alfred Green
BENNY CARTER
SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO (F)
USA • 1952 • 114 mins • Directed by Henry King
BENNY GOODMAN
BIG BROADCAST OF 1937 (F)
USA 1936 • 99 mins • Directed by Mitchell Leisen
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (F)
USA 1937 • 101 mins • Directed by Busby Berkeley
POWERS GIRL (F)
USA 1942 • 94 mins • Directed by Norman Z. Mcleod
BENNY GOODMAN STORY (STO)
USA 1955 • 116 mins • Directed by Valentine Davies
No Goodman in this bio but he did all the ghosting for Steve Allen
STAGE DOOR CANTEEN
USA •1943
Features the Goodman band with Jess Stacy (pno), Louis Bellson (drums) Dave Barbour (gtr), Conrad Gozzo (tpt) Also the Count Basie orchestra
THE GANGS ALL HERE
USA • 1943 • 104 mins
Features Jess Stacy, Miff Mole, Louis Bellson
SWEET AND LOWDOWN
USA • 1944 • 76 mins
Features Stacy, Zoot Sims (tnr), Bill Harris (tbn),
SYNCOPATION
USA 1942 • 88 mins • Directed by William Dieterle
A SONG IS BORN
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks
BENNY GOODMAN; ADVENTURES IN THE KINGDOM OF SWING (D)
USA 1993 • 60 MINS • Directed by Oren Jacoby
BENNY GOODMAN IN THE SOVIET UNION (C)
RUSSIA 1962 • 18 mins
BEN WEBSTER
See Ben Webster on docu page
BILLIE HOLIDAY
NEW ORLEANS (F)
USA 1947 • 90 mins • Directed by Arthur Lubin
LADY SINGS THE BLUES (F)
USA 1972 • 144 mins • Directed by Sidney Furie
LADY DAY ;The Many Faces of Billie Holiday (D)
USA 1991 • 60 mins • Directed by Matthew Sieg
LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL
USA 1994 • 60 mins • Directed by Rochelle Calhoun
Film version of the stage play with Kimberly Herbert in the role of Holiday
BUD POWELL
See Bud Powell on Docu page
CHARLIE MINGUS
ALL NIGHT LONG (F)
UK 1961 • 95 mins • Directed Michael Relph
CHARLES MINGUS Triumph of the Underdog (D)
USA 1997 • 78 mins • Directed by Don McGlynn
CHARLIE MINGUS : JAZZ WORKSHOP IN OSLO (D)
Norway 1964 • 58 mins •
CLIFFORD BROWN
No films at present known to exist apart from a mid 50's item with the
Max Roach group, who co- led it with Clifford. To the best of my knowledge
this is not available commercially .There is a poor quality youtube clip of Clifford on TV playing 'Lady be Good'
COLEMAN HAWKINS
AFTER HOURS (D)
THE CRIMSON CANARY (F)
USA 1945 • 64 mins • Directed by John Hoffman Coleman Hawkins, Howard McGee, Sir Charles Thompson
, Oscar Pettiford and Densil Best
appear on screen but for some strange reason other jazzers ghost the sound
track . See features page for movie clip
COUNT BASIE
POLICY MAN (F)
USA 1938
REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY(F)
USA 1943 • 77 mins • Directed by Charles Barton
DUKE ELLINGTON
Ellington appeared in numerous documentaries, shorts,
soundies and Snaders( while this page is being built see other pages for
details)
ANATOMY
OF A MURDER
(F)
USA 1959 • 160 mins • Directed by Otto Preminger
ASSAULT ON A QUEEN (STO)
USA 1966 • 106 mins • Directed by Jack Donohue
CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK (ABC)
USA1930 • 75 mins • Directed by Melville Brown
BELL OF THE NINETIES
USA 1934 • 70 mins • Directed by Leo McCarey
HIT PARADE OF 193
USA 1937 • 78 mins • Directed by Gus Mains
MURDER AT THE VANITIES
USA 1934 • 87 mins • Directed by Mitchell Leisen
PARIS BLUES
USA 1961 • 98 mins • Directed by Martin Ritt
REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY
USA 1943 • 77 mins • Directed by Charles Barton
CHANGE OF MIND (STO)
USA 1969 • 98 mins • Directed by Robert Stevens
FATS WALLER
STORMY WEATHER (ABC)
USA 1943 • 78 mins • Directed by Andrew Stone
see Shorts page for 'soundies' and 'snaders'
GERRY MULLIGAN
THE SUBTERRANEANS (F)
USA 1960 • 1960 • Directed by Ranald MacDougal
RAT RACE (F)
USA 1960 • 100 mins • Directed by Robert Mulligan
I WANT TO LIVE (F)
USA • 1958 • 120 mins • Directed by Robert Wise
GLEN MILLER
Ben Pollack and his Orchestra • USA • 1934 • 9 mins
With Matty Matlock, Glen Miller, Charlie Spivak, Ray Bauduc (drums)
Sun Valley Serenade • USA • 1941 • 86 mins
With Glen Miller (tbn), Tex Beneke (tnr), Ray Anthony (tpt), Ernie Caceres (alto)
Orchestra Wives • USA • 1942 • 98 mins
With Glen Miller, Billy May (tpt) Tex Beneke (tnr), Ernie Caceres (alto)
JACK TEAGARDEN
GLORY ALLEY (F)
USA 1952 • 77 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh
THE GLASS WALL (F)
USA 1953 • 80 mins • Directed by Maxwell Shane
BIRTH OF THE BLUES (F)
USA 1941 • 86 mins • Directed by Victor Schertzinger
THE STRIP (F)
USA 1951 • 86 mins • Directed by Leslie Kardos
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (D)
USA • 1960 • 90 mins • Directed by Bert Stern
(see 'Snaders' on shorts page)
LIONEL HAMPTON
MR ROCK AND ROLL (F)
USA 1957 • 74 mins • Directed by Charles Dubin
BENNY GOODMAN STORY (F)
USA 1955 • 116 mins • Directed by Valentine Davies
A SONG IS BORN (F)
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks
LOUIS ARMSTRONG Armstrong appeared in numerous documentaries,
shorts, soundies and snaders( while this
page is being built see other pages for details)
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (F)
USA 1936 • 80 mins • Directed by Norman Z McLeod
ATLANTIC CITY (F)
USA 1944 • 86 mins • Directed Ray MaCarey
ARTISTS AND MODELS
USA1937 • 97 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh
EVERYDAY’S A HOLIDAY (F)
1937 • mins • Directed by A. Edward Sutherland
BEAT GENERATION (F)
USA 1959 • 93 mins • Directed by Charles Hass
BIRTH OF THE BLUES
USA 1941 • 86 mins • Directed by Victor Schertzinger
CABIN IN THE SKY (F)
USA1942 • 99 mins • Directed by Vincente Minnelli
EX-FLAME (F)
USA 1931 • 68 mins • Directed by Victor Halperin
THE FIVE PENNIES (F)
USA 1959 • 117 mins • Directed by Melville Shavelson
THE GLEN MILLER STORY (F)
USA 1953 • 116 mins • Directed by Anthony Mann
GLORY ALLEY (F)
USA 1952 • 77 mins • Directed by Raoul Walsh
GOING PLACES (F)
USA 1938 • 84 mins • Directed by Ray Enright
HERE COMES THE GROOM (F)
USA 1951 • 114 mins • Directed by Frank Capra
HIGH SOCIETY (F)
USA 1956 • 107 mins • Directed by Charles Walters
JAM SESSION (F)
USA 1944 • 74 mins • Directed by Charles Barton
LA PALOMA
Germany 1959 • 100 mins • Directed by Paul Martin
LA ROUTE DU BONHEUR (F)
FRENCH / ITALY 1952 • 92 mins • Directed by Maurice Labro
and Georgio Simonelli
A MAN CALLED ADAM (F)
USA 1966 •103 mins • Directed by Leo Penn
NEW ORLEANS (F)
USA 1947 • 90 mins • Directed by Arthur Lubin
PARIS BLUES (F)
USA 1961 • 98 mins • Directed by Martin Ritt
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (F)
USA 1936 • 80 mins • Directed by Norman Z McLeod
PILLAR TO POST (F)
USA 1945 • 96 mins • Directed by Vincent Sherman
A SONG IS BORN (F)
USA 1948 • 112 mins • Directed by Howard Hawks
THE STRIP (F)
USA 1951 • 86 mins • Directed by Leslie Kardos
WHEN THE BOYS MEET THE GIRLS (F)
USA 1966 • 97 mins • Directed by Alvin Ganzer
JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY (D)
USA • 1960 • 90 mins • Directed by Bert Stern
MILES DAVIS
LIFT TO THE SCAFFOLD / Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud (F)
(STO)
France 1957 • 90 mins.• Directed by Louis Malle
DINGO
SCROOGED (F)
USA 1988 • 101 mins • Directed Richard Donner
MILES AHEAD
USA 1986 • 60 mins • Directed by Mark Obenhaus
Portrait of Miles Davis with most of his associates being interviewed
MILES DAVIS STORY (D)
UK 2000 • 100 mins • Directed by Mike Dibb
Comprehensive film made for UK TV
MILES DAVIS (:P)
USA 1959 • 28 mins •
Often seen footage of Miles with classic group of
Coltrane, Kelly, Chambers and Cobb
plus the Gil Evans Orchestra
MILES AND FRIENDS (D)
1991 • 60 mins
MILES ELECTRIC: A DIFFERENT KIND OF BLUE (D)
USA 2004 • 87 mins • Directed by Murray Lerner
NAT KING COLE
KILLER DILLER
USA 1948 • 80 mins • Directed by Josh Binney
Black cast film featuring Nat 'King' Cole
and the Andy Kirk Band
BREAKFAST IN HOLLYWOOD
USA 1946 • 90 mins • Directed by Harold Schuster
features the Nat 'King' Cole Trio
ST. LOUIS BLUES (F)
USA 1958 • 93 mins • Directed by Allen Reisner
Nat had a number of acting roles: The Blue Gardenia, China Gate, Night of the Quarter Moon, Cat Ballou
(see 'Soundies' on shorts page)
SIDNET BECHET
AH! QUELLE EQUIPE (F)
France 1956 • 96mins • Directed Roland Quignon .
L’ INSPECTEUR CONNAIT LA MUSIQUE / BLUES
(F)
France 1955 • 90 mins • Directed by Robert Mariaud
SIDNEY BECHE:TREAT IT GENTLE (D)
UK 1997 • 55 mins • Directed by Alan Lewens
STAN KENTON
Radio Melodies
USA • 1943 • 15 mins
Artistry in Rhythm
USA • 1944 • 20 mins
Two Guys from Milwaukee
USA • 1946 • 91 mins • Directed by David Butler
Lets Make Rhythm •
USA • 1947 • 20 mins
Rhythm Masters / A Decade of Band Hits •
USA • 1948 • 15 mins
Jazz Festival •
USA • 1949 •
Featuring Kenton, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole
Schlagerparade
W. Germany • 1953 • 95 mins
Soundies
all USA and app. 3 mins long
Eager Beaver
I’m Gonna Love That Guy
Reed Rapture
Southern Scandal
It’s Been a Long, Long Time with June Christie
Tampico with June Christie Jealous Moonlight Masquerade This Love of Mine White Cliffs of Dover Angel of Mercy Jammin’ in the Panoram The Outline of Jitterbug History Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes St. James Infirmary Two guitars in Jive I’m Homesick That’s All Congo Clambake
Docus
DIZZY GILLESPIE • USA • 1964
Gillespie seen in rehearsal with the Kenton Orchestra THE SUBSTANCE OF JAZZ • USA • 1968 • 18 mins BOUND TO BE HEARD • USA • 1972 • 52 mins
Both the above films directed by Baldwin Baker Jr
TONY PASTOR
Tony Pastor and his Orchestra • USA • 1948 • 18 mins
Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
USA • 1948 • 8 mins
With Rosemary Clooney (vocals)
Soundies • all USA and app. 3 mins long
For Whom the Bell Tolls • 1941 Corn on th Conga • 1941 Paradiddle Joe • 1941 Oh Marie • 1941 Doin’ the Ratamancue • 1942 That Did It Marie • 1942 Good Morning, Mr Zip Zip Zip • 1942 Lets Do It 1942
Snader Telescriptions • all USA and app. 3 mins long • made in the early 1950’s
Brother BIll Come on a My House Don’t Worry About Strangers Kiss Me Life is so Peculiar Margie Your Red Wagon
