starring Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Edmond O'Brien
written by Richard L. Breen
directed by Jack Webb
Pete Kelly goes through ups and downs, in Kansas City in 1929, as he clashes with speakeasy owner Fran McCarg (Edmond O'Brien). Flapper Ivy Conrad (Janet Leigh) pursues Pete but he is solely focused on his music and for the most part ignores or rebuffs her advances.
Thoughts
I saw this movie as part of the 2026 Noir City DC film festival at the AFI Silver Theater. I had not seen it before. It was introduced by film historian Foster Hirsch.
I discovered after the fact (Foster Hirsch did not mention it in his introduction) that the movie was preceded by a radio drama of the same name that aired from July to September 1951. Jack Webb was also the star of the radio show which was a "crime-musical radio drama" according to Wikipedia. Richard L. Breen created the show.
I have no idea if this movie was supposed to be a retelling of some episodes of the radio show or a sequel to the radio show.
This movie felt very fast paced. The music was good. The story was very hard to follow. The characters were two-dimensional. It was laughably bad at times. I was not crazy about it.
Notes
The movie received one nomination for an Academy Award. It was for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Peggy Lee) but she did not win.
I have seen Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, and Edmond O'Brien. Other actors who were in this movie that I have seen in other movies or in TV shows include Andy Devine, Lee Marvin, Martin Millner, Than Wyenn, and John Dennis. Singers Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald were also in this movie.
This is the first movie I have seen that was written by Richard L. Breen or directed by Jack Webb.
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