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American Pop

Play trailer Poster for American Pop R Released Feb 13, 1981 1h 37m Musical Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
This animated trek across the musical landscape of the 20th century begins with young immigrant Zalmie (Jeffrey Lippa) arriving in New York City. He's addicted to show business, but an accident ruins his voice. He marries a stripper (Lisa Jane Persky) and their son, Benny (Richard Singer), becomes a jazz pianist. Although Benny is killed in World War II, his son, Tony (Ron Thompson), goes on to great success as a songwriter during the '60s, as does Tony's son, Pete (also Thompson), in the '80s.
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American Pop

Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 3/5 Sep 9, 2004 Full Review Seth Troyer PopMatters The entire Bakshi filmography is a campaign against business as usual, a full-on assault on the medium... Oct 3, 2023 Full Review Michael Talbot-Haynes Film Threat This is one of those flawless wonders where every single frame is perfect. Rated: 10/10 Jul 5, 2022 Full Review Peter Ackroyd The Spectator Although the plot, like the music itself, can be somewhat too strident, the animation is remarkably successful in delineating the sad geography of the human body and the massive backgrounds of American cities. Mar 27, 2018 Full Review Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com This is a film that grandly overreaches, attempting to condense a century's worth of triumph and tragedy into ninety minutes. To a surprising degree it succeeds. Rated: 62/100 Jul 18, 2012 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Has a wonderful soundtrack, but it fails to provide an actual story unless you look hard... Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 3, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Eddie C Saw this movie when I was in college in the early 90's. Love the soundtrack. I think it's a bad ass film. That's my personal opinion. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/25 Full Review CodyZamboni Z An immigrant family is involved in the history of American music from Broadway, jazz, 1960s, and modern techo rock, Uneven, Unremakable animation from Bakshi. Lots of hammy exaggerated voice acting, Kinda boring, Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/01/25 Full Review Noe G American Pop was a great Ralph bakshi film and it’s the most underrated animated film of 1981 and my rating is a 9/10 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/24 Full Review AlphaSnail N Fantastic soundtrack, animation, and vintage style, but lacking in interesting characters Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/05/24 Full Review Mark K Ralph Bakshi's Sistine Chapel. Much like a Russian novel, it moves from generation to generation. This was a huge project, plot wise, and Bakshi did it justice. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Audience Member Each generation of music becomes a part of the American pop cultural landscape. First he did the original adaptation of the Lord of the Rings. Now famed animator Ralph Bashki brings another animated work of art. This one revolves around each young man earning their passion for music throughout the decades. Bashski uses music from various time periods to match the grim, reality of human history. A lot of it is exaggerated but stylized in its own way. The main focus is a young Russian immigrant Zalmie. He loves show business but his voice is ruined by an accident. Later he marries a stripper and they have a child who becomes a jazz pianist. Then his son Tony goes on to making songs during the 1960s. Finally his own son, Pete does wonders as a musician in the 1980s. The whole thing is like a giant music video. Very artistically well-made. There's a semblance of a story but really it's the visuals and music they make the movie stand out the most. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
American Pop

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Cast & Crew

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Ralph Bakshi

Director

Ron Thompson

Tony

Mews Small

Frankie

Jerry Holland

Louie

Lisa Jane Persky

Bella

Jeffrey Lippa

Zalmie

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American Pop

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Movie Info

Synopsis This animated trek across the musical landscape of the 20th century begins with young immigrant Zalmie (Jeffrey Lippa) arriving in New York City. He's addicted to show business, but an accident ruins his voice. He marries a stripper (Lisa Jane Persky) and their son, Benny (Richard Singer), becomes a jazz pianist. Although Benny is killed in World War II, his son, Tony (Ron Thompson), goes on to great success as a songwriter during the '60s, as does Tony's son, Pete (also Thompson), in the '80s.
Director
Ralph Bakshi
Producer
Martin Ransohoff, Ralph Bakshi
Screenwriter
Ronni Kern
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia
Rating
R
Genre
Musical, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 13, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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