The Saddest Music in the World Movie Review 2003

Arty but amusing take on the classic musicals and screwball comedies of the 1930s set in Depression-era Winnipeg, Canada. Eccentric plot has legless beer baroness Lady Helen Port-Huntly (Rossellini) proclaiming she will offer a prize of $25,000 and a crown of frozen tears to any nation that comes up with the world's saddest music. Americans Chester Kent (McKinney), a failed Broadway producer and Canadian ex-pat, and Narcissa (de Medeiros), his amnesiac, nymphomanic muse, decide to take a crack at it. Truly stylish, madcap and clever, zaniness nonetheless wears thin by the conclusion. Appropriately eclectic soundtrack. Based on an original screenplay by Kazuo Ishigura.

Distribution

MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-6061, Phone: (310)449-3000, Fax: (310)449-3100, URL: http://www.mgmhomevideo.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on DVD
Running time 99 minutes.
Originally from Canadian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Musical Comedy, Comedy Drama, Great Depression, Period Piece: 1930s, Screwball Comedy, Canada, Amnesia

Screenplay

Guy Maddin, George Toles, Kazuo Ishiguro

Cast

Isabella Rossellini, Mark McKinney, Maria De Medeiros, Ross McMillan, David Fox, Claude Dorge, Darcy Fehr

Cinematography

Luc Montpellier

Director

Guy Maddin

Music

Christopher Dedrick

Other

Russ Dyck, David McCallum, David Wharnsby, Meg McMillan, Matthew Davis

Producer

Niv Fichman, Jody Shapiro, Rhombus Media, Buffalo Gals Pictures, IFC Films