Jazz on Film: The Man with the Golden Arm

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents the Jazz on Film screening series.

Organized by guest curator Peter Lucas, Jazz on Film includes classic and rare performance films made from the 1920s-1950s presented by jazz film archivist Mark Cantor; a 60th anniversary screening of Otto Preminger’s classic The Man with the Golden Arm; Shirley Clarke’s gritty Harlem story The Cool World, and the 1970 documentary film Jack Johnson featuring a score by Miles Davis.

The Man with the Golden Arm
60th anniversary screening.

Directed by Otto Preminger
1955, USA, B/W
119 minutes, 35mm

In one of the first films to introduce jazz stylings into mainstream cinema scores, Frank Sinatra stars as a recovering addict and aspiring drummer.

Composer Elmer Bernstein incorporated jazz elements to create the feel of contemporary urban America, and to express the character’s ambitions and growing despair.

Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive.

Preceded by the Oscar-nominated jazz short Jammin’ the Blues (Directed by Gjon Mili, USA, 1944, 10 min.), featuring Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Barney Kessel, Marie Bryant, and others in a late-night jam session.

Independent curator Peter Lucas has created exhibitions, film series, and public programs in association with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Menil Collection, Aurora Picture Show, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle International Film Festival, and Experience Music Project.

Houston Press named him Best Curator in 2012 and 2013. Lucas is also an active artist, with an upcoming gallery show at Art League Houston and a film and installation project being created as part of Rice University’s Space Arts Initiative.