Live Life Team
This is a film by Francis Ford Coppola and, as would be expected from such a legendary artist, it is a great one.
It’s a musical set in the days of the famous speakeasies where gangsters relaxed while being entertained by the top names of the day with beautiful women, house orchestras, first-rate singers, dancers — the works.
This movie has basically four separate plot lines intertwined set against the backdrop of this famous Harlem nightclub of the 1920s. Mafia characters, gang violence, forbidden inter-racial romance and blatant racism are all elements that color this production.
The movie contains some great musical scenes interspersed with the on-screen violence. One must always keep in mind the era this film is based in; otherwise, the raw, highly racist, highly offensive language of certain parts of the film could easily turn the viewer away from the film.
This film reminds us that our world was not as just as it is today. There was once a time when a civil rights movement was badly needed. There was a time when people were judged by the colour of their skin and there were certain things off limits to blacks, things that white people took for granted.
This film not only provides a look into those times, but also provides a wonderful storyline as well. It is a shame this movie was never a commercial success, and to be honest, I don’t understand why. It is well-produced and the acting is flawless. I guess people just couldn’t stomach the racism and the violence of the era in which this film is based, and perhaps how honestly the film portrays it.
Great movie, but not for the weak-stomached.
