Synopsis
An explosive 1930s drama following a jazz band in London at a time of huge change.
2013 Directed by Stephen Poliakoff
An explosive 1930s drama following a jazz band in London at a time of huge change.
James D. Stern Douglas Hansen Colin Callender Dan Lawson Peter Hampden Alison Owen Paul Trijbits Stephen Poliakoff
Lipsync Productions Playground Entertainment Endgame Entertainment Creative England Ruby Film and Television
Да танцуваш на ръба, Dansând pe margine, Танцы на грани, Dancing on the edge, ცეკვები ზღვარზე, 邊緣之舞, 崖上舞
A rewatch over the past couple of days, the first since 2013, and it is still 'just OK', to be honest.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays band-leader Louis Lester, a cultured black man in 1930s London, where he's feted by Royals and aristocrats but manipulated and feared by Masons and Nazi delegations.
At first, with new singers Jessie and Carla, life seems rosy, with a residence at the Imperial Hotel (managed by Mr Schlesinger, played by Mel Smith in his final screen role), and media attention, orchestrated by the deputy editor of Music Express, Stanley (Matthew Goode), wealthy businessman Walter (Anthony Head), and bright young things Julian and Pamela Luscombe (Tom Hughes and Joanna Vanderham).
By the end of…
Too long by half or more, but the production value, music and overcomplicated mystery do give this some intrigue. Matthew Goode offers the strongest performance. Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Goodman and Jacqueline Bisset, all of whom do less with better material, are more likely to score Emmy nominations. What little comment is made on race lacks insight and the plot contrivances are seemingly endless. There's far more detail in the sets and costumes than any of the writing.
The Lewis Lester (Chiwetel Eijofor) Band, a black jazz group, crosses the color line in London during the early 1930s by getting booked for an engagement in a swanky hotel. Their new manager, Stanley Mitchell (Matthew Goode), also editor of a music magazine, embarks on a plan to introduce them to British society, understanding acceptance by that class is the road to success. The band is kicked into high gear when told the addition of a female singer will help and they discover Jessie (Angel Coulby), a woman with a great voice and magnetic stage presence, as well as her friend Carla (Wunmi Mosaku), also a fine singer. Everything seems to be going well as they draw an ever growing…
Dancing on the Edge (Stephen Poliakoff, 2013)
A jazz-age mystery about a black band involved in a murder set amongst the British aristocracy in 1930s London. A tale of sex, class and race superbly acted by a topnotch cast led by Chiwetel Ejiofer, Matthew Goode, John Goodman and Jacqueline Bisset. Outstanding period details and swinging dance tunes make this great viewing.
I wished that the story wasn’t so…..wonky? I know, me and my extensive vocabulary….I felt it was thrown together hastily at times. But jazz, London, the 30’s look, then everything going on at the time. Crazy how things never change.
Dancing on the Edge (2013, Stephen Poliakoff) Music journalist Stanley (Matthew Goode) champions a jazz band led by Louis Lester (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in 1930s London. Its residency at a posh Hotel brings a disparate group of people together, which in turn brings intrigue/trouble.
Very excellent and fun also very dark and sad interesting times had all around also 10/10 for angel coulby i love her
Interesting period/mystery serie with depth, but way too long for me. Also, the interview with Louis (bonus) felt vague and unnecessary.
Fijn hoe het de sfeer neerzet van een 'zwarte jazzband' tussen de verschillende rangen, standen en hiërarchieën van de Britse beau monde. Qua locaties en aankleding is het genieten geblazen. Ergens wrang dat zelfs een serie rond de opkomst van een (fictieve) jazz-band vrijwel in zijn geheel gedragen wordt door blanke acteurs. Toch zet Chiwetel Ejiofor een leuk rol neer als een calculerende bandleider die zich staande moet houden tegenover het openlijke racisme van de Britse High Society. Daarop vormt Matthew Goode een leuk tegenwicht als de archetypische gesjeesde reporter met grootse ambities in het verslaggevingsveld. John Goodman is ook leuk als de eigenaardige Amerikaanse zakentijger zonder scrupules. Het enige wat serieus hapert is dat het plot geforceerd een thriller-insteek gaat krijgen rond een moord en het moeten ontsnappen aan de autoriteiten. Daarbij staat de langzame sfeersetting de spanningsopbouw vooral in de weg.
Stephen Poliakoff is just about my favourite writer and director working in television, his television creations, from Shooting the Past, The Lost Prince and Perfect Strangers, need to the time and space that TV allows, and Poliakoff always pushes the medium to its limits. It has a number of his favourite subjects - photographs, a period setting, barely suppressed violence, class differences, royalty and trains; and a couple of new subjects for investigation, race relations and jazz music. It is another fully formed Poliakoff world, with a number of beautifully drawn moments, some great music and a few incredible performances. Chewietel Ejiofor and Matthew Goode are the two central figures and are both really impressive, Ejiofor gives a performance equal…