Jammin the Blues is one of the most notable short films in the history of jazz, partly because it is one of the few visual records of tenor saxophonist Lester “Pres” Young (about whom I published my first two books). Filmed in August 1944 by Gjon Mili, famous then for his work in
Note the way the cue chalk and its saucer in the opening to “Money” suggest a rimmed hat, as well as the cigarette smoke. Interestingly, the mise-en-scène reverses what opens “Jammin”: in “Money”, the “hat” is on the right, the smoke on the left.
Again, admittedly speculative, but as further support for my point, it’s also notable that when he filmed “The Color of Money” Scorsese had recently finished acting in “Round Midnight”. The soundtrack to “Money” featured a recording by Bird (“I’ll Remember April”, with strings), and of course, Scorsese is not only a film historian (and certainly knew Mili’s film) but had jazz bona fides, having directed “New York, New York” in ‘77.
In other words, further suggestions that jazz could’ve been on his mind when he shot the opening to “Money”.
Great stuff, Lewis.
While I’m speculating, I’ve long thought that the opening to “Jammin the Blues” (in turn) influenced the opening to “The Color of Money”:
https://youtu.be/ekxqsN1hpY4
Note the way the cue chalk and its saucer in the opening to “Money” suggest a rimmed hat, as well as the cigarette smoke. Interestingly, the mise-en-scène reverses what opens “Jammin”: in “Money”, the “hat” is on the right, the smoke on the left.
Again, admittedly speculative, but as further support for my point, it’s also notable that when he filmed “The Color of Money” Scorsese had recently finished acting in “Round Midnight”. The soundtrack to “Money” featured a recording by Bird (“I’ll Remember April”, with strings), and of course, Scorsese is not only a film historian (and certainly knew Mili’s film) but had jazz bona fides, having directed “New York, New York” in ‘77.
In other words, further suggestions that jazz could’ve been on his mind when he shot the opening to “Money”.
Cheers,
Steve
Thank you for tipping me off to Jammin' the Blues — visually and musically resplendent!