It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Scott Joplin (1977) – Musical #800

Studio:
Produced by Motown Pictures, Distributed by Universal Pictures

Director:
Jeremy Kagan

Starring:
Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Davis, Art Carney, Margaret Avery, Eubie Blake, Godfrey Cambridge, Otis Day, Mabel King, Taj Mahal, Spo-De-Odee, Samuel Fuller, Seymour Cassel, David Healy, Lionel Richie (uncredited)

Plot:
Composer Scott Joplin (Williams) works his way up from being pianist in a brothel, known as “a Professor,” to becoming a successful composer — transforming the landscape of music with ragtime hits. While largely known as a genius, Joplin wants to be seen as a high-brow composer and works to compose his opera, “Treemonisha.” His life and career are hindered by heartache and tragedy, like an illness and death of a child.

Trivia:
• Dick Hyman dubbed the piano playing throughout the film.
• Final film of Godfrey Cambridge. The movie was released posthumously, as Cambridge died in 1976.
• The film was originally made for TV to air on NBC. However, Universal Pictures distributed the film for a limited release.

Highlights:
• The ragtime music played throughout

Notable Songs:
• “Maple Leaf Rag” performed by Billy Dee Williams, dubbed by Dick Hyman
• “The Entertainer” performed by Bill Dee Williams, dubbed by Dick Hyman
• “Peacherine Rag” performed by Billy Dee Williams, dubbed by Dick Hyman
• “Weeping Willow” performed by Billy Dee Williams, dubbed by Dick Hyman
• “Wall Street Rag” performed by Billy Dee Williams, dubbed by Dick Hyman

My review:
Scott Joplin’s music is synonymous with the American songbook. Songs like “The Entertainer” were revolutionary as ragtime music was popular at the turn of the century.

But Joplin’s story, while filled with music, is more of a tragedy than a musical. As the film started, I felt rather sad watching the young ambitious character of Joplin, and knowing his end was not a happy one.

The wonderful Billy Dee Williams plays Scott Joplin in this biographical story about the composer.

The film begins with a brief childhood and family background of Joplin, told through fast moving still photographs. The film story begins in the late-1800s with adult Scott Joplin (Billy Dee Williams) who is leaving a job as a pianist at a brothel. Joplin moves to Missouri, where he meets music publisher, John Stark (Art Carney), who is intrigued by Joplin’s innovative music and wants to publish it. The two form a successful partnership. Joplin also settles down with his wife Belle (Margaret Avery) and continues composing music. While seemingly successful, Joplin is suffering from syphilis, with symptoms that arise at random and affects his piano playing. Joplin faces other personal tragedy, like the death of a child, which drives Joplin and Belle apart. Joplin eventually moves to New York City, with the ambition to compose serious music, and tries to compose the opera,” Treemonisha.”

Though Joplin died in 1917, he didn’t receive true recognition until the 1970s, especially after it was featured prominently in the film, THE STING (1973). The film ends, summarizing that Joplin received posthumous recognition, including “Treemonisha” finally being performed in its entirety for the first time in 1972.

This isn’t your typical musical, with the cast breaking out to song and dance. But it is filled with Joplin’s ragtime songs, and I would compare it to other biographical films of composers and bandleaders, like THE GENE KRUPA STORY or THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY. Nearly 20 songs are played throughout, performed by jazz pianist Dick Hyman. Interestingly, we hear more of “Maple Leaf Rag” than “The Entertainer.” A major highlight of the film is a dueling piano scene. It’s so much fun. 

Not only did I want to track this film down to watch it as a musical biopic, but I also love Billy Dee Williams. How much more can you ask for than to see Williams in a film?

In his autobiography, Williams wrote that as soon as he read the script he wanted to be involved in SCOTT JOPLIN (1977).

“I loved ragtime. I also saw an opportunity to interpret this great American composer in a way that might surprise people,” Williams wrote.

Williams is excellent in the film, playing a different character than his other roles, where he often played a charismatic character or a playboy. As Joplin, he’s more subdued, as a sensitive artist trying to hone his craft and reach the masses with music.

After making this film he wished he pictured himself staring in more biopics, according to his autobiography, but unfortunately, audiences did not have that good fortune.

While Williams is the standout performance, the rest of the cast is great too. Clifton Davis is wonderful as the fresh-faced but ill-fated composer, Louis Chauvin. He brings a charming exuberance. The film also includes real-life musicians Taj Mahal, Spo-De-Odee and Otis Day.

Art Carney is also a great, key character who is Joplin’s ally when no one else believes in his work. Blink and you’ll miss him, but director Samuel Fuller also appears at the end as an impresario Joplin is auditioning his opera for.

Produced by Motown, the film was originally to be made for television. While it did have a special presentation on TV, it also was distributed in theaters by Universal. Unfortunately, the film was not well received.

“I thought the movie deserved more recognition that it received,” Williams wrote in his autobiography. “The absence of a happy ending might have prevented it from gaining wider popularity; it was and remains a solid piece of work, worth checking out.”

I honestly liked this film and that it continued to shine a light on composer Scott Joplin during a decade where he was posthumously experiencing a career renaissance. Billy Dee Williams is wonderful, and my only regret is that we didn’t see him in more biographical films.

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