American Pop

American Pop (1981)

Timing: 1:36 (96 min)

6.8/10
97

All about film

Video 2

Photo 2

Actors and characters

Release date

1981-02-13

Country

United States

Production

Columbia Pictures, Bakshi Productions, Aspen Productions

Genre

Animation, Music, Drama, History

Budget

$0

Revenue

$6 000 000

Website

Director

Ralph Bakshi

Actors

Ron Thompson, Lisa Jane Persky, Jeffrey Lippa, Frank De Kova, Roz Kelly, Mews Small, Elsa Raven, Vincent Schiavelli, Richard Moll, Lynda Wiesmeier
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Ronni Kern

Producer

Ralph Bakshi, Martin Ransohoff, Maggie Abbott, Richard R. St. Johns

Operator

Composer

Artist

Audition

Bob Morones

Editing

David Ramirez
All team (23)

• The film tells the story of pop music in the USA in the 20th century. Only music by American groups and performers is used, with the exception of the British band The Sex Pistols.
• All characters are fictional, but some are based on real people. Frankie, for example, is based on Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) and Janis Joplin (1943-1970) (Big Brother and the Holding Company).
• Some scenes with gangsters were taken from William A. Wellman's gangster film "The Public Enemy" (1931).
• The film's title is a homograph. The word “pop” has two meanings. First, it is an abbreviation for “American popular music,” and second, “pop” means “father.” The film tells the story of four generations of American fathers.
• The song “Sing Sing Sing With a Swing” features the Nicholas Brothers from the film “Broadway Melody of 1940” (Norman Taurog, 1940). The Nicholas Brothers were a dance duo consisting of Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000).
• Zalmi’s mother died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911. This was the largest industrial disaster in history. 146 workers perished, including 123 women (most of whom were immigrants). They either burned to death or died from falling after jumping from the upper floors of the building, while the factory doors were locked. It was in the wake of this tragedy that labor legislation was amended.
• With a few exceptions, rotoscoping was used for the rest of the filming (a technique where the figures of all characters are traced from live actors).
• Rotoscoped images of James Cagney (1899-1986) and Jean Harlow (1911-1937) dancing were inserted into the ballroom dance scene when Bella performs “Bill”.