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American Pop

American Pop

Animation · Music · Drama · 1981

The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing different musical abilities.

Movie details

American Pop

“All those years, all those dreams, all those sons... one of them is going to be a star.”

1981 Animation · Music · Drama 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing different musical abilities.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over American Pop?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Jersey Boys

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ralph Bakshi

Written by

Ronni Kern

Ron Thompson

Ron Thompson

Tony Belinksy / Pete Belinksy (voice)

Lisa Jane Persky

Lisa Jane Persky

Bella (voice)

J

Jeffrey Lippa

Zalmie Belinksy (voice)

Frank De Kova

Frank De Kova

Crisco (voice)

Roz Kelly

Roz Kelly

Eva Tanguay (voice)

Mews Small

Mews Small

Frankie (as Marya Small)

Elsa Raven

Elsa Raven

Hannele (voice)

Court is in session

Put American Pop on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.