“Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things” salutes the singer who became known as the first lady of song — whose six-decade career stretched from the comforts of novelty tunes to the cutting edge of jazz — with a PBS-ready treatment. It proceeds dryly and largely chronologically through her life, sometimes with an awkward sense of proportion. (Is it necessary for a full closing title card to note that Fitzgerald, who died in 1996, had both legs amputated toward the end of her life?)
The best moments concern the music. The dancer Norma Miller, who died last year, recalls seeing Fitzgerald’s star-making debut at amateur night at the Apollo Theater: Her introduction drew boos, but she silenced the audience quickly. The British singer Laura Mvula marvels that Fitzgerald “could solo using her voice to the same level, with the same ease that a trumpeter or a saxophonist could.” Noting that Fitzgerald’s improvisations always stayed harmonically sound, the music writer Will Friedwald recites a lengthy list of songs she incorporated during a five-minute scat version of “How High the Moon.” “What kind of a catalog do you have in your head to be able to do that?” he asks in amazement.
But analysis like that is mostly the exception, as are instances when the documentary, directed by Leslie Woodhead, allows the music a moment to sink in. We do hear Fitzgerald speak out against racism in a radio interview that the movie implies was withheld from broadcast. But this rote biographical portrait never lives up to her voice.
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 29 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
