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Syncopation

Play trailer Poster for Syncopation 1942 1h 28m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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In New Orleans, young Kit Latimer (Bonita Granville), who loves and plays the African-American music of the city, moves to Chicago with her architect father, George (Adolphe Menjou). Over the next several years Kit discovers that the ragtime of her childhood has developed into jazz and continues performing. Struggling coronet player Johnny Schumacher (Jackie Cooper) befriends Kit, who is then arrested after her music incites a riot at a club. Upon her release, Kit forms a band with Johnny.

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Syncopation

Critics Reviews

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Jose Maria Santos Cine-Mundial 09/17/2019
A survey of American music in the past 40 years. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Eric Melin Scene-Stealers.com 02/28/2015
2.5/4
The plot is pretty standard, if a little herky jerky, but what stands out above everything is the respect and passion all the characters have for the music. To his credit, Dieterle doesn't really play up the soap opera elements of the story either. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D @RT35616104 03/23/2024 Perhaps Jazz fans will enjoy. I didn't. See more 11/23/2008 This is an odd little film and definitely part of the WWII propaganda (though disguised a little through WWI). There are some kind of cheesy montages and a little bit of overacting in places but the music (of which there is a lot!) is pretty spectacular, especially if you've only heard but never seen Gene Krupa on the drums. Some spectacular dance scenes as well, one of which involves a knife fight. I must say, though, the structure of the film seemed to suggest how jazz was born out of slavery and oppression but ultimately will carry on through white people. See more 10/16/2008 great movie good musoic See more Read all reviews
Syncopation

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Cast & Crew

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William Dieterle

Director

Jackie Cooper

Johnny Schumacher

Adolphe Menjou

George Latimer

Bonita Granville

Kit Latimer

George Bancroft

Steve Porter

Ted North

Paul Porter
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Syncopation

Syncopation (1942) Syncopation (1942) Syncopation (1942) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In New Orleans, young Kit Latimer (Bonita Granville), who loves and plays the African-American music of the city, moves to Chicago with her architect father, George (Adolphe Menjou). Over the next several years Kit discovers that the ragtime of her childhood has developed into jazz and continues performing. Struggling coronet player Johnny Schumacher (Jackie Cooper) befriends Kit, who is then arrested after her music incites a riot at a club. Upon her release, Kit forms a band with Johnny.
Director
William Dieterle
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 22, 1942, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 26, 2017
Runtime
1h 28m
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