My personal opinion, The movie needed more from the talent that was on hand, such as the extras in the movie, no one realy got a chance to liven it up. I THINK the part where BLONDIE cruises 18th st, and the smooth actining extra was speaking to a lady in front of the hay hay club, This man could have sparked up some scenes in that movie HARRY BELAFONTE was graet as always, and so were the cast of speaking acters, I say make a part two of the movie, and focus more on the lives of the people that loved great jazz, and what fashion ment to the colorful and lively personalitys of the thirtys. My opinion MCMURRAY.

Sad to say, but this just wasn't Altman's best. I found it rather tiresome to watch and the story developments just weren't interesting enough to fully hold my attention.

Chris Hicks has written a by-the-numbers Altman pan. I suspect he had formed much of this opinion ( probably even entire sentences he considers 'well-written zingers') before getting his ticket torn. Hicks is dying to be Stanley Kaufmann I think. Tough luck Chris. Watch the movies. Of course I think Kansas City was terrific, more satisfying than Short Cuts even. As far as evocations go, this film is completely absorbing, and never boring. Leigh and Richardson are a fantastic pair and their relationship is subtly drawn and multilayered. I never thought Belafonte's monologues went on too long, his character was fascinating. Watch the scene where Dermott Mulroney smugly talks down to Seldom about the hazards of 'killing a white man'. Belafontes silent reaction suggests so many subtexts. Marvellous! Of course the music is wonderful, and most importantly always serves and drives the film. I could go on and on but just go rent it. Another underappreciated film from a great Amer