the spike jones story u

THE SPIKE JONES STORY
U USA 1988 )
© Don McGlynn
Produced, edited and directed by Don McGlynn
Director of Photography: Steve Wacks
Sound: Paul Trautman
Executive Producer: Karl Emil Knudsen
Associated Producer: Patricia Friedman
USA 1988
59 min., colour, black & white, ov (English)
German Premiere!!
Director Don McGlynn is present for q/a
with:
WHAT MAKES MUSIC LAUGH?
25. - 28. Juni 2009
Konzerte – Filme – Ausstellungen - Gespräche
Babylon Mitte | Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30 | 10178 Berlin
Veranstalter: Helma Schleif | TMP Productions | A division of FMP FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION Distribution & Communication e.K.
Markgraf-Albrecht-Str. 14 | 10711 Berlin
T - +49 30 323 75 26 | F - +49 30 324 94 31 | [email protected] | [email protected] | www.free-music-production.de
THE SPIKE JONES STORY
U USA 1988 )
Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, DJ Dr. Demento
featuring The City Slickers:
Billy Barty, George Rock, Earl Bennett (Sir Frederic Gas), Ruth Foster, Joe Siracusa, Mousie Garner, Bernie
Jones, Eddie Brandt
And the Spike Jones Family:
Helen Grayco (Mrs. Spike Jones), Spike Jones Jr., Linda Selsman-Jones, Leslie Jones, Gina Jones
© Don McGlynn
WHAT MAKES MUSIC LAUGH?
25. - 28. Juni 2009
Konzerte – Filme – Ausstellungen - Gespräche
Babylon Mitte | Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30 | 10178 Berlin
Veranstalter: Helma Schleif | TMP Productions | A division of FMP FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION Distribution & Communication e.K.
Markgraf-Albrecht-Str. 14 | 10711 Berlin
T - +49 30 323 75 26 | F - +49 30 324 94 31 | [email protected] | [email protected] | www.free-music-production.de
THE SPIKE JONES STORY
U USA 1988 )
THE SPIKE JONES STORY is the first documentary yet made about this innovative, musical humorist.
Today Jones is best remembered as the creator of deliriously surreal musical numbers which topped the
charts in America for over ten years. These recorded classics are popular to this day because of their
inspired and very complex lunacy. Clearly, Jones was an inspiration to dozen of other innovators,
including ´Monty Python´s Flying Circus´ and ´Ernie Kovacs´.
This documentary combines his personal and professional history with many examples of his hit
recordings, like ´Cocktails For Two´, ´Der Fuehrer´s Face´, ´You Always Hurt the One You Love´, ´Laura
´ and ´All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth´, along with some rarely seen 1950´s rock and
roll parodies.
Part of the focus of this 60 minute documentary is to reveal different facets, either forgotten or never
revealed, about this widely loved figure in popular music. Jones really was a show business visionary. A
tireless worker, Jones ended up revolutionizing the music industry with his ambitious ´Musical
Depreciation Revue´, a pioneering concept. His revue was an elaborate, touring stage show which
grossed millions over the years and established a touring pattern which is still in use today. Jones hired
his band members for their fine musical skills and their comic abilities, which made the selection process
very difficult. A perfectionist who demanded the best from his diverse band of eccentrics, he is most often
remembered by his collaborators with compassion and respect. This documentary also reveals the very
special visual nature of Jones´ comedy. Most people only know his records, since he only appeared in a
handful of motion pictures and his numerous television appearances were shot live and never revived.
The film makers had access to hours of rare performance footage. Finally, modern television viewers can
experience Jones´ ripe visual imagination which thrust his audiences into an insane universe with a non
stop flurry of wild sight gags. No comedy band enjoyed comparable success. And no one in the music
industry came close to duplicating his unique blend of social satire, surrealism and comic appeal.
Featured in this program are Milton Berle and Danny Thomas, both long-time personal friends, numerous
family members and an array of Spike Jones´ collaborators – The City Slickers. To give the program some
historical perspective, famed syndicated DJ, Dr. Demento, also appears.
Production note
WHAT MAKES MUSIC LAUGH?
25. - 28. Juni 2009
Konzerte – Filme – Ausstellungen - Gespräche
Babylon Mitte | Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30 | 10178 Berlin
Veranstalter: Helma Schleif | TMP Productions | A division of FMP FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION Distribution & Communication e.K.
Markgraf-Albrecht-Str. 14 | 10711 Berlin
T - +49 30 323 75 26 | F - +49 30 324 94 31 | [email protected] | [email protected] | www.free-music-production.de