One of the weirdest movies I have ever seen went by the title of Dixieland Daimyo. It must have been twenty years ago, and I have no idea what other names it might have, or who made it. It begins in the American South, immediately after the Civil War. A half-dozen newly freed slaves decide they'll go back to Africa. Being such total naifs, they end up sailing out into the Pacific Ocean rather than the Atlantic. The shi is wrecked off the coast of Japan, and they are the only survivors. This is all the overall intro, and so far, it's historically correct. From here, the movie goes gradually, acceleratingly off-track. The guys are in the territory of a minor daimyo whose lands include s stretch oof the royual road which connects Japan. That's really his only importance in large-scale politics. But this is the eve of the Meiji Restoration, so a bunch of foreigners are a real problem for him, and foreigners of a color no one has ever seen are only worse. So the guys are in the dungeon while he wonders what to do. Since they have nothing to do, they make music, and gradually teach the entire court to play Dixieland. When the bog political blowup comes (again, portrayed reasonably accurately), the court simply dismantles the paper walls and retires en mass to the dungeon for a tremendous jam session while the various armies and factions race in ho9t pursuit back and forth over their heads.
If anyone can trace this little gem of absurdity, I would be grateful. WHOOPS! cancel that. I just Googled, and it has finally hit the web.
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timeasmymeasure
Dixieland Daimyo
Date: 2007-02-24 07:25 pm (UTC)It begins in the American South, immediately after the Civil War. A half-dozen newly freed slaves decide they'll go back to Africa. Being such total naifs, they end up sailing out into the Pacific Ocean rather than the Atlantic.
The shi is wrecked off the coast of Japan, and they are the only survivors. This is all the overall intro, and so far, it's historically correct. From here, the movie goes gradually, acceleratingly off-track.
The guys are in the territory of a minor daimyo whose lands include s stretch oof the royual road which connects Japan. That's really his only importance in large-scale politics. But this is the eve of the Meiji Restoration, so a bunch of foreigners are a real problem for him, and foreigners of a color no one has ever seen are only worse.
So the guys are in the dungeon while he wonders what to do. Since they have nothing to do, they make music, and gradually teach the entire court to play Dixieland.
When the bog political blowup comes (again, portrayed reasonably accurately), the court simply dismantles the paper walls and retires en mass to the dungeon for a tremendous jam session while the various armies and factions race in ho9t pursuit back and forth over their heads.
If anyone can trace this little gem of absurdity, I would be grateful.
WHOOPS! cancel that. I just Googled, and it has finally hit the web.
http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/2761_DIXIELAND_DAIMYO.html