A documentary exploring the life and music of the legendary Count Basie. Using rare footage from the 30s and 40s and interviews with his favourite musicians and admirers, this tribute recalls the Count’s famous numbers (“One o’clock jump, Jumping at the Woodside, Every tub, The Kid from Red Bank, Doggin’ around, Little darlin’, April in Paris) and reveals the personality behind them. Count Basie himself tells of the early influence of Fats Waller and Pete Johnson and his first barnstorming days in Kansas City. Suitable for middle and upper secondary, and tertiary levels.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
507785
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Biographical films
Documentary → Documentary films - United States
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Music - Instruction and study
Music & Performing Arts → African American musicians
Music & Performing Arts → Basie, Count, 1904-
Music & Performing Arts → Jazz - History
Music & Performing Arts → Jazz music
Music & Performing Arts → Jazz musicians
Music & Performing Arts → Music - History and criticism
Music & Performing Arts → Music - Instruction and study
Music & Performing Arts → Music appreciation
Music & Performing Arts → Waller, Fats, 1904-1943
People → Waller, Fats, 1904-1943
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White and Colour
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)