MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for The Gene Krupa Story

The Gene Krupa Story

1959 · 101 min

A earnest, music-filled rise-and-fall biopic that swings between energetic drumming and sober moral lessons, easy to watch but emotionally sincere.

Tagline
He hammered out the savage tempo of the jazz era!
Overview
The story of legendary jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. Since his youth, all Gene ever wanted to do is play the drums and make music. This is something his parents would not approve of- they want him to be a priest. When Gene's father dies he promises to enter the priesthood. He soon realizes that he doesn't belong there and leaves to join his friend, Eddie's band. Ethel, Eddie's girlfriend, convinces Gene to go to New York and make it big. The 3 of them head to New York. Here Ethel and Gene soon fall in love and Gene makes a name for himself. Gene starts to live in the fast lane, with drugs, alcohol, women and parties. Ethel, unhappy with Gene's lifestyle, leaves him. Gene soon "hits rock bottom" where he has to face reality and choose where to take his life.
In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 1 of 3
  • upliftingstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • ambition
  • addiction
  • love
  • redemption
  • family
Places
  • big city
  • small town
  • home
Era
period
Audience
teen
Form
  • true story
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action2
Horror0
Humour3
Realism7
Romance6
Tension4
Darkness5
Complexity4
Emotional weight6

More like this

Titles like The Gene Krupa Story

Movie

The Five Pennies

1959

A warm, tuneful biopic that balances toe-tapping jazz with heartfelt family drama and a tearful recovery.

Same composer: Leith Stevens · Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and love · true story

Also
Same composer: Leith Stevens
Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
117 min
Details In your watch list
The Five PenniesHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

A Star Is Born

1937

A sweeping, bittersweet Hollywood romance that lifts you with one star's rise and aches with another's fall.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and addiction

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • addiction
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
111 min
Details In your watch list
A Star Is BornHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Beverly Hills, 90210

1990–2000

A glossy, melodramatic look at wealthy teens navigating love, friendship, and social issues with earnest sincerity.

Earnest · about love and family

Via
  • earnest
  • love
  • family
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Seasons
10
Details In your watch list
Beverly Hills, 90210Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Born to Be Blue

2015

A melancholy, intimate portrait of a damaged artist clawing his way back, carried by a lived-in performance and the smoky pull of jazz.

Melancholic, earnest · about addiction and love · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • addiction
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
97 min
Details In your watch list
Born to Be BlueHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Walk the Line

2005

A raw, soulful rise-and-fall story carried by magnetic performances and music, moving from hardscrabble pain to hard-won love.

Melancholic, earnest · about addiction and love · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • addiction
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
136 min
Details In your watch list
Walk the LineHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

La La Land

2016

A bittersweet, visually dazzling musical that sweeps you up in romance and ambition, then leaves a lingering ache.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and love

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
129 min
Details In your watch list
La La LandHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Whiplash

2014

A nerve-shredding, sweat-soaked duel of wills that feels like a thriller, with drumming so intense you hold your breath.

Earnest · about ambition

Via
  • earnest
  • ambition
Pacing
relentless
Attention
demanding
Runtime
107 min
Details In your watch list
WhiplashHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

La Bamba

1987

A warm, bittersweet rise-and-fall story that sweeps you up in the music and then leaves you with a quiet ache.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and love · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
108 min
Details In your watch list
La BambaHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

La Bamba

A warm, music-filled rise-and-fall story that builds gently toward a looming, heartbreaking sense of doom.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and family · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • family
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Details In your watch list
La BambaHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Young Man with a Horn

1950

A brooding, brass-soaked rise-and-fall that aches with self-destruction, offering old-Hollywood glamour and a mournful jazz heartbeat.

Melancholic, earnest · about addiction and love · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • addiction
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
112 min
Details In your watch list
Young Man with a HornHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

tick, tick... BOOM!

2021

A vibrant, heartfelt musical that pulses with creative urgency and bittersweet emotion, blending joy and melancholy.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and love · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
120 min
Details In your watch list
tick, tick... BOOM!Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

8 Mile

2002

A gritty, scrappy climb through a bleak city, powered by raw performance and a hard-won sense of self-belief.

Melancholic, earnest · about ambition and family · true story

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • ambition
  • family
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
111 min
Details In your watch list
8 MileHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, music
Directed by
Don Weis
Written by
Orin Jannings
Starring
Sal Mineo, Susan Kohner, James Darren, Susan Oliver, Yvonne Craig, Lawrence Dobkin, Celia Lovsky, Red Nichols
Music
Leith Stevens
Cinematography
Charles Lawton Jr.
Runtime
101 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
English

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata