Does the Jazz Lead to Destruction | |
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Starring | Ethel Bennetto, George Irving |
Release date |
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Country | Australia |
Languages | Silent film English intertitles |
Does the Jazz Lead to Destruction? is a 1919 Australian silent film about the jazz craze. It is considered a lost film.
A family of wowsers, the McWowses, oppose jazz dancing but are converted to its joys. [1] Several dances are featured, including 'the Walking Waltz', 'the Jazz', 'the Tickle-Toe' and the 'Whirly Whirly'. These were performed by the leads. [2] [3]
Ethel Bennetto and George Irving were both dancers from Sydney who performed the dances in the film. [4]
During the lead up to the film's release, letters from the fictitious characters, the McWowses, would appear in press advertising complaining about jazz. [3]
The film is often confused with another jazz comedy, Why Jessie Learned to Jazz, for Australasian Films and director Frederick Ward, which was announced for production but was likely abandoned. [3]