Pete Kelly's Blues

Jack Webb stars as a Kansas City jazz cornetist, and when he takes on a vicious gang lord (Edmond O'Brien), the only thing faster than his famed deadpan delivery is the rapid-fire action. And the only thing more dynamic than the film's Dixieland- and blues-infused musical score is its stellar cast. Janet Leigh is a gin-swilling heiress who moves in on Kelly's heart. Lee Marvin and Martin Milner as Pete's hotheaded sidemen keep the tempo torrid. Andy Devine goes dramatic as an ice-cold cop. Ella Fitzgerald brings her inimitable jazz alchemy to "Hard Hearted Hannah" and "Pete Kelly's Blues." And Peggy Lee proves as masterful acting the blues as singing them, earning a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of a boozy songbird.

• crime
• drama
• musical