Unique qualities of this early musical include the fact that it's both in color and sound! I had previously understood that prior to 1935 this was technically or chemically impossible. The two-color Technicolor was not new (Ben-Hur, for example) but it does add richness after you get used to it. Really interesting (to me, at least) to see the VERY young Bing Crosby singing as part of the Rhythm Boys. Whiteman's orchestra does Rhapsody in Blue when it was still a new piece. Comedy acts are corny and quaint. The big production numbers were lavish and very new; some seemed experimental and fresh. They didn't yet know just what to do with a musical-entertainment movie, so they just threw in some of everything that was popular on stage at the time, done by some very talented performers.
Review of King of Jazz
