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American Pop DVD Cover
AMERICAN POP

-- Synopsis: follows four generations of Jewish-American musicians as each painfully seeks fame through changing musical eras with hard-luck protagonists suffering through clichéd drug addiction, death, and alienation. Starting at the turn of the century with a piano-playing immigrant in New York, the film moves swiftly, following his offspring through such movements as Gershwin-era pop, jazz, folk music, '60s psychedelia, and punk--and only pauses for elaborate, energized musical numbers designed to showcase the work of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Sex Pistols, Lou Reed, the Jefferson Airplane, and numerous others. use of rotoscoping (tracing animation from live action) makes for fluid and often eye-popping visuals. The differences in atmosphere and feel in the different periods of time shown in the film - through the 20's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's - are fascinating and very creative.

* This film features the history of pop music with some good Rock and Roll and Lindy Hop Rotoscope Animation. Rotoscope basically means the use of real film, real people, animated over to look like an animation. The Lindy Hop scenes are actual legendary Lindy Hoppers.


Film Information
Date: Studio: Director: Availability:
1981 Columbia/ Tri Star Ralph Bakshi [DVD] [VHS]
Runtime: Country Made: Language: Color:
96 minutes USA English Color
Genre: Featured Dancer  Featured Dance Dance Rating  
Animation / Music / Drama ?Archie Savage / Marie Bryant? Lindy Hop VERY GOOD
 
Known Dancers Choreographers Well Known Actors / Actresses
Various Animated Real Dancers n/a Hilary Beane
  - Robert Beecher
    Roz Kelly
    Beatrice Colen
 
Dances performed in this film   Special Dance Interest
Lindy Hop n/a n/a Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll     Lindy Hop
Russian Dances      
       
 
Some Music Titles in Film Bands / Musicians / Singers Soundtrack(s) Available Posters / Lobby Cards
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall < Bob Dylan n/a $ One Sheet Movie Poster
Anything Goes < Cole Porter     $ DVD Case Poster
Cantaloupe Island < Herbie Hancock        
Don't Think Twice It's All Right < Bob Dylan        
Hell is for Children < Neil Giraldo        
I Got Rhythm < George Gershwin        
Mona Lisa < Ray Evans        
Night Moves < Bob Seger        
Purple Haze < Jimi Hendrix        
Summertime < George Gershwin        
 
Stage versions of the film Stage Date Cast Recording(s) Available Sheet Music Covers
n/a n/a n/a  
       
 
Books Available on this film ...
Title Author Date Published Publisher
Script Ronni Kern - -
 

Other...

 

October 12, 2005
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