Too Late Blues
| Too Late Blues | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | John Cassavetes |
| Produced by | John Cassavetes |
| Written by | Richard Carr John Cassavetes |
| Starring |
Bobby Darin Stella Stevens Everett Chambers |
| Music by | David Raksin |
| Cinematography | Lionel Lindon A.S.C. |
| Edited by | Frank Bracht, A.C.E. |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Too Late Blues is a 1961 black-and-white American film directed by John Cassavetes, with stars Bobby Darin, Stella Stevens and Everett Chambers. It is the story of jazz musician "Ghost" Wakefield and his relationship with both his fellow band members and his love interest, Jess, a beautiful would-be singer. The film was written by Cassavetes and Richard Carr.
It was the first film that Cassavetes produced for a major Hollywood studio, Paramount, and Darin's first nonsinging role.
"Ghost" Wakefield is the leader of a struggling jazz band. At a party he meets the attractive singer Jess, who is in a relationship with the Ghost's agent, Benny. At Ghost's insistence she becomes a member of the band, and he begins a relationship with her, antagonizing Benny.
Benny arranges for the band to cut a record. In a party at a bar celebrating the recording session, Benny encourages a tough guy, Tommy, to pick a fight with the band. Ghost avoids fighting, causing a rift with Jess. She leaves the band, and the band breaks up. Ghost becomes the protege of a rich patron, playing the piano at night clubs under her sponsorship, his career in decline, while the rest of the band plays inferior music to make a living.
Ghost locates Jess, who has become a prostitute, and goes with her to the other band members, who reject him but begin playing their old music with Jess singing.
The film's musical score was by David Raksin, and was performed by eminent musicians, including Benny Carter. Cassavetes wanted Montgomery Clift and Gena Rowlands, his wife and frequent leading lady, for the main roles, and the production of the film was rushed. However, the production of the film was less traumatic for Cassavetes than he would experience with A Child is Waiting (1963), his other early studio film, which was taken from him during editing. Announcements about the projected film appeared in December 1960, February 1961 and July 1961, when two photographs of Stella Stevens being directed by two actors, Edmond O'Brien in Man-Trap and John Cassavetes in Too Late Blues (the second photograph included Bobby Darin), were published in The New York Times Sunday Magazine.
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