Syncopation

1942
U
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

343

YOUR RATING

Charlie Barnet, Connee Boswell, Jackie Cooper, Benny Goodman, Bonita Granville, Harry James, Jack Jenney, Gene Krupa, Adolphe Menjou, Alvino Rey, and Joe Venuti in Syncopation (1942)

Play trailer1:32

1 Video

4 Photos

Comedy History Music Romance

Covering a quarter-century of American 'syncopated" music (Ragtime, Jazz, Swing, Blues, Boogie Woogie) from prior to WWI through prohibition, the stock market crash, the depression and the o... Read allCovering a quarter-century of American 'syncopated" music (Ragtime, Jazz, Swing, Blues, Boogie Woogie) from prior to WWI through prohibition, the stock market crash, the depression and the outbreak of WWII. A romance between singer Kit Latimer from New Orleans, and Johnny Schumac... Read allCovering a quarter-century of American 'syncopated" music (Ragtime, Jazz, Swing, Blues, Boogie Woogie) from prior to WWI through prohibition, the stock market crash, the depression and the outbreak of WWII. A romance between singer Kit Latimer from New Orleans, and Johnny Schumacher, in which they share and argue over musical ideas ensues. Prior to the making of the f... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

343

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:32

Syncopation

Photos3

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Storyline

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Trivia
Charlie Barnet who plays himself, led his first band at age 16, on a transatlantic liner, and eventually made 22 such crossings; he also visited the South Seas and Latin America. In 1932 he became leader of the band at the Paramount Hotel in Manhattan, New York City, and thereafter formed a succession of large and small bands. He achieved his greatest fame with the recording of "Cherokee" (1939), his signature song, and with "Skyliner" (1944).

Goofs
Early in the film it is the onset of World War I, yet Bonita Granville's character is dressed and styled in the 1940's era.

Quotes
Kit Latimer: I've never been anywhere like this before. I never even knew it was here.
Johnny Schumacher: Well, that's Chicago.
Kit Latimer: Chicago.
Johnny Schumacher: It's you and me. "Oh I see, flashing, that this America is only you and me. Freedom, language, poems, employments, are you and me. Past, present, future, are you and me."
Kit Latimer: Walt Whitman, isn't it?
Johnny Schumacher: Yeah.
Kit Latimer: He's my favorite poet, too.

Crazy credits
At the start of the film, you see the names of the actors scroll up as "In front of the camera" and the crew as well as "Behind the camera" before the name of the movie finally appears.

Soundtracks
Under a Falling Star
Music by Leith Stevens
Lyrics by Rich Hall
Sung by Connee Boswell

User reviews16

Featured review

10/10

Le jazz hot!

I came away with a different slant on this film than the other reviews I've seen here, so let me just say that for 1942 this terrific little love note to jazz is remarkably progressive for its day. While it's true that the plot ultimately leads to the white jazz stars of the early '40s, it is true to the roots of jazz and even includes a scene where an adult black musician calls an adult white musician "boy" and it's clear who's teaching who. This movie is as passionate about hot jazz music as were the people who created it, and it shows.

Also, the plot is not as thin as many such films. It has the production values of an "A" picture, and its three stars were not exactly "B" list talent. It sometimes stretches credulity, but no more so than any other musical, and in fact even less so, considering that the music is an inherent part of the story.

Here's hoping TCM shows this again soon; I'd love to record and keep it, as I doubt an official DVD release is in the offing.