Kansas City

1996
R
1h 56m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

5.5K

YOUR RATING

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Harry Belafonte, and Miranda Richardson in Kansas City (1996)

Play trailer2:20

1 Video

62 Photos

Political Drama Tragedy True Crime Crime Drama Music Thriller

A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

5.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination

Videos1

Trailer 2:20

Watch Kansas City

Photos62

+ 56

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Robert Altman gathered together some of the greatest living jazz musicians, put them on a set representing the Hey Hey Club and asked them to play period material in the style of the Kansas City jazz giants like Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. He filmed this separately after he had done the fictional plotline, and then intercut it with the narrative.

Goofs
While the music sessions were not strictly done as period pieces, the inclusion of the Gibson electric guitar jumped the gun by a few years. The ES-150 didn't go into production until 1936 and had a blade type pickup.

Quotes
Blondie O'Hara: Can I have my husband back now?
Seldom Seen: How do you want him, in a box or a sack?

Connections
Featured in Robert Altman: Giggle and Give In (1996)

Soundtracks
Hosts of Freedom
Written by Karl King (as Karl L. King)
Published by C.L. Barnhouse (SESAC)
Performed by The Lincoln College Preparatory College Band

User reviews54

Review

Featured review

8/10

Altman at his best!

Kansas City is absolutely stunning! Jazz is played practically throughout the entire movie, and one scene in particular could have gone on forever as far as I'm concerned. You'll know which scene I mean when you see it! A real get up and jump 10 minutes or so. Jennifer Jason Leigh was at her best. It was a complex role and her development of the character was incredible. Belefonte was chilling! Altman really picked up a sense of the time and place. This is a must see for jazz fans.