BAND OF THIEVES (1962) **1/2 Jazz' response to The Girl Can't Help It , though it probably wasn't intended as a response, doesn't reference it and may have been entirely unaware of the achievement. Jazz lurches towards hardened criminals in a comedic way, with peripheral vision on the kids and direction of society. Or maybe American culture was just those 6+ years and a power chord ahead of Britain, whatever. It's a lot of fun-both of them, but I'm talking about this one. It has that '60s feeling, and the focus on jazz doesn't preclude it from precursing all of those emergent feelings and pleasures. The root "curse" having very little, but ok maybe just a little bit, to do with it if you ask me. So Acker Bilk's trad jazz band, fresh on parole after ruling prison, are off across the countryside playin' to win and robbing rich folk and giving to themselves. Felonious Robin Hood hybrid of the egocentrism to come. Hot chicks, bright lights, strong drinks, lots of fun I say. Acker Bilk's band is good, too, I'm going to go find a CD. It looks like they have a lot better idea on how to make a music video than anyone on MTV, too, though that in itself wouldn't rise to a reason for watching.
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