I'm a big fan of movies like "The Cotton Club", "Bloodhounds of Broadway", "Chicago", and other films that are set in the 20s and 30s jazz age/Prohibition era... does anyone have any recommendations for films set in this time period, or other films that I might also like?
I'd really appreciate it...
Upcoming "HOLLYWOODLAND" with DIANE LANE, ADRIEN BRODY, BOB HOSKINS and BEN AFFLECK. Set in the 40's and 50's in old style Hollywood. Looks good from the trailer too!
shareI'm surprised that there have not been more recommendations posted here!
My suggestions are pretty diverse but here goes anyway.........
There is the kid's musical "Bugsy Malone" (& who can forget Jodi Foster as sexy singer Tallulah?!) which was re-released in cinemas only last years actually,the 1984 Sergio Leone underrated epic "Once Upon a Time in America", or the 1967 film "The St Valentine Day Massacre"
How about the classic black & white comedy "Some Like it Hot" featuring Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon in drag, Kevin Costner in The Untouchables or even Julie Andrew's in the gloriously camp 1967 musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie" which is set in 1922 & celebrates the age of the Flapper.
Just recently too I have seen the film "DeLovely" which portrays the life of Cole Porter (played by Kevin Kline) & I enjoyed that too as well as seeing "Mrs Henderson Presents" with Dame Judi Dench which features chorus girls (albeit nude!) in 1930's/1940's London.
My own favourite however is a little seen 1991 tv movie called "White Hot:The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (who is played by Loni Anderson) which is an account of the mysterious death of the above popular actress that scandilized Hollywood in 1935.
Then again you will get no better "feel" for the era than actually watching some films that were made at the time.If you want gangsters try "Public Enemy" "Little Caesar" or "Scarface" (the 1932 version that is) & if it's musicals that you are more after then try for example 1933's "42nd Street" with Ruby Keeler or any of the later Busby Berkley films too.
Whatever your tastes enjoy!
Hi - from a musical point of view, and also genuine footage of the era you may like to check out BLACK AND TAN (1929) - the musical/dance sequences were filmed in the studio, but it is a mock-up of the original Cotton Club, and features Duke Ellington's band. Apparently the mock-up is so close to the real club that for years it was believed to have been shot in the actual place! Another great "short" from your chosen period is SYMPHONY IN BLACK - A SONG OF SORROW (1935) which also features Duke's band and as a bonus the 18 yr old Billie Holliday. BUNDLE OF BLUES (1933) is also worth a look, as well as the many "shorts" made in the early 40's by Ellington and his band. You can access all of these on YOUTUBE and/or ALICE VIDEO and see them for free! As for great crime/film noir from the period, check out Fritz Lang's "DR MABUSE", "M", "SPIONE", and "THE TEASTAMENT OF DR MABUSE" among others! If you would like more info, especially about the music, I'm on [email protected]
I was the trombone player in THE COTTON CLUB, and was a member of the Ellington band - (Old guy, in other words!) but I know a thing or two about this stuff! Great that guys like you are interested! Respect! BOB
apart from the fritz lang and james cagney (who also starred in one of the best movies of that era: The Roaring Twenties) films there are the movies Hoodlum and Harlem Nights that might not be up to par to the others but deal with the same era and the same topics as The Cotton Club does.
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The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
Agatha (1979)
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Kansas City (1996)
The Cat's Meow (2001)
Is Kansas City (1996) the movie with lengthy jazz playing scenes in between? If so, then it is particularly similar to The Cotton Club, because they both feature a lot of musical numbers, while still not being musicals.
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