Pete Kelly's Blues

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Red T There really isn't anything broken or bad about this. Editing, pacing, acting is all ok and the cinematography is decent. The main issue is this tries to be a noir & a musical at the same time and it never really works well together. The music is ok enough but half of them don't have lyrics and the jazz numbers just blend in really. Ella's songs are pretty good but Leigh's is the best one. It's a shame she only gets one number and the dancing, colors, lyrics never really pop for most of this or are catchy at all. This has the complex plot and sharp dialouge of a noir but it never really looks like one. The camerawork is basic, this isn't moody or atmospheric at all, and the characters (aside from Leigh who is solid) are all just forgettable including Pete. He is wooden, emotionless, and doesn't have the charisma of a Glenn Ford or Mitchum to get away with that well or much chemistry with Leigh. This needed to have a better director who could give this more style. Make it black and white with shadows & smoke, catchier numbers with lyrics, better camerawork, and a better lead man. It's ok enough but this is something that should be remade someday. There is potential here but as is its forgettable. Skip it. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/19/23 Full Review Audience Member A pretty disappointing film that started off well but just became confusing and ended very abruptly. The main character, Pete Kelly, is a pretty boring character, he reluctantly agrees to work for this mob boss after he suspects his friend is killed by another gangster. The music is the best part of the film. However, it doesn't make up for some stilted acting, weird pacing and a needlessly over complicated plot. Pete Kelly wants to find evidence for his friend's murder so he goes to the mob boss's office but his fiancée wants to have a dance with him, then the gangsters show up, the mob boss is weirdly killed by one of his own men and then Pete and his fiancée leave and have good ol' sing and dance. Just a rushed and ridiculous ending. Peggy Lee was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as the abused mob boss's girlfriend and she did an alright job. However, she was not as good as the Oscar winner Jo Van Fleet in East of Eden (a good but not great film). Overall, a film that started off with potential but became lost in the mix of some pretty good Jazz music. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review steve d There is extremely little story here. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Evocative production directed by and starring Jack Webb; singer Peggy Lee copped on Oscar nomination for her portrayal of an alcoholic singer and Ella Fitzgerald sings two songs, including the title tune. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Jack Webb directs and stars as the titular character, up against the wall during Prohibition when a gangster decides that he's going to muscle all the local musical acts for part of their pay and call himself their manager. It's well worth a look, and surprised me by being a color film, as I was expecting clack and white, given its age. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member The production design has a high degree of 1920s verisimilitude. The sight gags and tough-guy repartee still have legs. Jack Webb bears comparison with Bogie. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Pete Kelly's Blues

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