Barnes & Noble

An animated cult classic, Ralph Bakshi's American Pop says it all in the duality of its title: It chronicles both a century of popular music and a tale of father-son relationships among four generations of entertainers. Zalmi is a turn-of-the century Jewish immigrant who becomes a burlesque vaudevillian and mob-hit victim, while his son Benny dies before finding fame as a pianist. Benny's drifter son Tony, a self-destructive songwriter in San Francisco's psychedelic rock scene, leaves behind his boy Little Pete, who ultimately shines as a punk rock star. The film's visually compelling use of rotoscoping (tracing from live action) is punctuated by documentary footage of America's changing social and political climates. The soundtrack is a history lesson of 20th century music: George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Scott Joplin, Sam Cooke, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, The Mamas & The Papas, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Seger, and Lynyrd Skynyrd all get their due. From Minsky's and dance halls to Greenwich Village coffeehouses and West Coast rock festivals, American Pop is an unforgettable time capsule that drives home music's impact on all generations. Sharon Steinbach

All Movie Guide

The rise and growth of American popular music through the 20th century is reflected in the lives of four generations of one family in this animated drama directed by Ralph Bakshi. Zalmie (voice of Jeffrey Lippa), a Russian Jew, emigrates to America, and tries to struggle along as a comic and musician in vaudeville, until an injury suffered in World War I ends his singing career. Zalmie's son Benny (voice of Richard Singer) inherits his father's love for music, and when he grows to adulthood, he joins a jazz combo as a pianist; his career is cut short, however, when he's killed while fighting in World War II. Benny's son Tony (voice of Ron Thompson) is also bitten by the music bug and is determined to make his mark as a songwriter; he becomes involved in the Beat poetry and music community in San Francisco, and later falls in with a pioneering psychedelic band. Along the way, Tony fathers an illegitimate son named Pete (voice of Eric Taslitz), and ends up becoming Pete's guardian in New York City without realizing he's the boy's father. After Tony's death, Pete supports himself by dealing drugs, while struggling to make his dream of becoming a rock star a reality. Ralph Bakshi achieved American Pop's unique look through a process called "rotoscoping" -- shooting the scenes with live actors, and then tracing their movements onto animation cells.

Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 043396195998
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround
• Language: English, Español
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español
• Time: 1:35:00
• Sales Rank: 13,601

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