Momma Don't Allow

1956
U
22m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A night at the Wood Green Jazz Club - an example of 'Free Cinema'A night at the Wood Green Jazz Club - an example of 'Free Cinema'A night at the Wood Green Jazz Club - an example of 'Free Cinema'

Directors
- Karel Reisz
- Tony Richardson
Writers
- Karel Reisz
- Tony Richardson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

343

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Karel Reisz
- Tony Richardson
Writers
- Karel Reisz
- Tony Richardson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Reisz and Richardson submitted a proposal to the BFI Experimental Film Fund for a short documentary in March 1954; the film was temporarily titled "Jazz". It was shot during the winter of 1954, with a total grant of just £425. By the time it was completed in November 1955, its title had been changed to "Momma Don't Allow".

The film was shot on 16mm film during Winter 1954-5 with a total grant of just £425 (the pair had requested only £232). By the time the it was completed in November 1955, its title had been changed to Momma Don't Allow.

Connections
Featured in Free Cinema (1986)

MOMMA DON'T ALLOW is largely of historical interest these days. The mid-50s jazz scene is portrayed with unvarnished documentary style, but otherwise, it's a repetitive 21 minutes. I felt the visuals were not as stunning as the other reviewers claim and while I'm interested in both of the directors attached to the film, they would go on to do far more memorable and artistically successful work in the (then) near future.

The one thing I got out of this: dancing seemed to consist mostly of spinning. I suppose that's better than the silly grinding I had to deal with in high school-- but like grinding, it gets monotonous after two minutes.