King of Jazz (1930): cast, story & where to watch
1930 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1930, King of Jazz is a comedy, animation and music film directed by John Murray Anderson, running about 98 minutes. “A NEW ERA in sound and color entertainment!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Made during the early years of the movie musical, this exuberant revue was one of the most extravagant, eclectic, and technically ambitious Hollywood productions of its day. Starring the bandleader Paul Whiteman, then widely celebrated as the King of Jazz, the film drew from Broadway variety shows to present a spectacular array of sketches, performances by such acts as the Rhythm Boys (featuring a young Bing Crosby), and orchestral numbers—all lavishly staged by veteran theater director John Murray Anderson.
Who’s in it. King of Jazz stars Paul Whiteman as Paul Whiteman, John Boles as Vocalist ('Song of the Dawn' / 'It Happened in Monterey'), Laura La Plante as Editor ('Ladies of the Press') / Stenographer ('In Conference') / Quartet Member, 'Nellie' and Jeanette Loff as Vocalist ('It Happened in Monterey' / 'Bridal Veil' / 'A Bench in the Park'), among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, King of Jazz has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch King of Jazz page.
If you liked it. Fans of King of Jazz tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch King of Jazz (1930)?
- In US, King of Jazz is available to stream on fuboTV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is King of Jazz worth watching?
- King of Jazz holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, animation and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in King of Jazz?
- King of Jazz stars Paul Whiteman, John Boles, Laura La Plante, Jeanette Loff and Glenn Tryon.
- When was King of Jazz released?
- King of Jazz was released in 1930, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.