Outspoken, manipulative, independent thinking and oftentimes controversial, Artie Shaw (1910-2004) was one of the most popular stars of the Swing Era, who famously broke the color barrier by hiring the legendary Billie Holiday, Hot Lips Page and Roy Eldridge for his bands. His complex love-hate relationship with his own celebrity caused him to walk away from performing almost as many times as he walked away from his marriages.

Winner of the 1986 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, ARTIE SHAW: TIME IS ALL YOU’VE GOT portrays the restless life and five-decade career of the gifted clarinetist/bandleader known as the “King of the Clarinet.” Anchored by an incisive interview recorded when he was 72 years old, this entertaining portrait is much more than a jazz film; it is the insightful story of a brilliant and complex individual.

“Spectacular…An all-star roster of interviewees, including the luminaries Mel Tormé and Buddy Rich, contributes to an unfailingly entertaining saga.” –The New York Times

“What was Shaw’s response to the finished film? ‘The first time was overwhelming,’ he admitted. ‘It’s strange to see yourself through someone else’s eye. But the film has the merit of truth.” –Los Angeles Daily News

DIRECTED BY BRIGITTE BERMAN
CANADA | 1985 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE