Jackie McLean on Mars (1980): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1980, Jackie McLean on Mars is a music and documentary film directed by Kenneth Levis, running about 32 minutes.

What it’s about. Jackie McLean is a true jazz master and one of the few true authorities of the bebop era still in business, but at the time of this film his main gig was teaching at Hartford. Hartford seems to have had a low-profile and low-budget jazz department, and the same goes for this film, which clocks in at just over half an hour, and barely scratches the surface of the subject matter. Still, what is here is engaging and a surprisingly candid portrait. McLean is shown practicing in his apartment and - briefly - playing with his quintet, but most of the running time is spent at Hartford in the classroom - and what classes they must have been. McLean's stream-of-consciousness lectures run from Sun Ra to JFK's assassination to how he learned Giant Steps, and the students try their best to keep up. A fascinating glimpse into the mind of a jazz musician.

Who’s in it. Jackie McLean on Mars stars Jackie McLean and Woody Shaw.

How it landed. With an audience score of 3.0/10, Jackie McLean on Mars has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Jackie McLean on Mars page.

If you liked it. Fans of Jackie McLean on Mars tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.