What Price Jazz

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In rhyme, a soapbox preacher, Mr. Blue Laws, enlists Mr. Public Opinion in the efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Jazz. Armed with an ax and a buckshot-shooting pistol, the two of ... Read allIn rhyme, a soapbox preacher, Mr. Blue Laws, enlists Mr. Public Opinion in the efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Jazz. Armed with an ax and a buckshot-shooting pistol, the two of them interrupt Ted Fiorito and his jazz orchestra (and showgirls). The lads head for the w... Read allIn rhyme, a soapbox preacher, Mr. Blue Laws, enlists Mr. Public Opinion in the efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Jazz. Armed with an ax and a buckshot-shooting pistol, the two of them interrupt Ted Fiorito and his jazz orchestra (and showgirls). The lads head for the woods, where Ted convinces them to stand their ground. They're joined by their songstress w... Read all

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IMDb RATING

6.2/10

YOUR RATING

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Top cast11

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Ted Fio Rito Orchestra

Themselves
(as Ted Fiorito and His Orchestra)

George Irving

Mr. Public Opinion

Shirley Ross

Singer

Thelma White

Singer

M-G-M Dancing Girls

Dance Ensemble

Ted Fio Rito

Orchestra Leader
(uncredited)

Joan Gale

Singer
(uncredited)

Elaine Johnson

Chorus girl
(uncredited)

Muzzy Marcellino

Self - Singer
(uncredited)

Nelson McDowell

Mr. Blue Laws
(uncredited)

Nina Mae McKinney

Dancer
(uncredited)

Director
- Sam Baerwitz
Writer
- Sammy Timberg
All cast & crew
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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Elaine Johnson's debut.

Quotes
Mr. Blue Laws: My dear public, let us protect ourselves from this terrible devil-may-care jazz age, which we are living in. This era of wicked rhythm and indecent dancing. This good world full of jazz hounds and crooners.

Connections
Edited from They Learned About Women (1930)

Soundtracks
Dancing in the Moonlight
Music and lyrics by Walter Donaldson
Sung by Muzzy Marcellino

User reviews6

Review

Featured review

Decent MGM Short

What Price Jazz (1934)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

The title is an obvious take on WHAT PRICE GLORY but that's the only connection between this and the silent film. What we basically got is a cry for understanding as we see a group of jazz performances and then we're introduced to an evil white man who thinks jazz is evil for people and wants it banned. There are some rather clever touches in this short including naming the bad guy Mr. Public Opinion since he speaks for everyone. I thought the way the short made fun of the man trying to make up the minds of everyone was well-done and in some pre-code glory he's finally busted once some sexuality of the jazz pulls him in. The jazz and dance sequences aren't the greatest the genre has to offer up and I think it's fair to say that if they really wanted to win people over that perhaps some better song selections should have happened. Still, the film is quite charming in its own way and fans of shorts should find it entertaining.