Rereleasing "King of Jazz"

I have a real fondness for the movie, King of Jazz (1930). It is a one of a kind movie with lots of great music and an excellent cartoon segment from the Walter Lantz Studio. This movie was just as loved by audiences back in its day and was rereleased in 1933. That version added newly filmed comedy sequences but also cut nearly 35 minutes.

The following page from Universal Weekly shows various ways this movie was advertised upon its rerelease.

The following is a 1933 article about the film from Universal Weekly. 

Next is an advertisement for King of Jazz from the Universal Weekly.







As you can see by this follow page of Universal Weekly this was not the only 1930 Universal movie rereleased in 1933. Also rereleased that year was All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) and Captain of the Guard.

One last article from Universal Weekly. The line "No producer in these times could afford to a picture near as costly as was 'King of Jazz,'" seems odd considering the movie was only three years old at this point. 

Now let's enjoy some great music from the movie. First is George Gershwin's Rhaposdy in Blue.



Now for So the Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together. This song is performed by The Rhythm Boys (Bing Crosby, Harry Barris, Al Rinker)



We end our post with the cartoon segment for the movie. This was created by the Walter Lantz studio, and at the time their starring character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit who can be seen briefly here.


-Michael J. Ruhland