I Called Him Morgan

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I Called Him Morgan

2017,

1h 32m,

Documentary

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Watchlist

Watchlist

96%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Helen Morgan had nursed her common-law husband, jazz great Lee Morgan, through heroin addiction. On a February night in 1972, she walked into Slug's Saloon in the East Village with a gun in her purse, and after they fought and he physically threw her out of the bar, she returned and shot him. Then, Helen relinquished the gun and waited for the police to come for her. Many years later, she was interviewed about her life with the brilliant and unpredictable musician.

Critics Consensus

I Called Him Morgan doubles as a seductive tribute to its subject's jazz passion as well as an absorbing look at a fatally doomed relationship.

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Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

Aug 25, 2018

4/5

A touching and poetic portrait of a pair of imperfect people, forever transformed by the vices of success, the big city and other all-too-human temptations.

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Chris Vognar

Dallas Morning News

Jun 21, 2018

I Called Him Morgan is a first-rate documentary. It's also the perfect impetus to explore Morgan's catalogue.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Jul 28, 2017

4/5

Collin's exceptional, atmospheric film avoids the hysteria and hyperbole of similar true crime documentaries to usher this delicate story in with a palpable sense of sorrow rather than a desire to retroactively point the finger of justice.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 14, 2021

It's a sad story. Collin tells it intelligently and carefully, with almost no missteps.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 11, 2020

3.5/4.0

A human story about two starkly different yet remarkably similar humans.

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Barbara Majsa

barbaramajsa.com

Mar 21, 2020

The interviews done with Lee's friends hit a genuinely personal tone effortlessly, which is beyond doubt one of the director's greatest merits.

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Albus W

Aug 8, 2018

Precioso documental sobre Lee y Helen Morgan. Lee fue uno de los trompetistas mas grande en la historia del jazz gracias, en parte, a Helen, la mujer que los rescató de la heroína y lo puso en marcha de nuevo a pesar de los años que le llevaba. Gran historia, muy bien narrada.

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Jul 28, 2018

On paper, it's not the most unique story--dramatic though it is. But the way it unfolds in these interviews and archival recordings is really compelling. The whole thing is just heartbreaking, on so many levels.

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Finn S

Jan 12, 2018

Just amazing how well this story was told with mainly found footage and some interviews. It's captivating!

Harry P

Oct 14, 2017

Captivating footage and interviews. A must-see!

Aug 9, 2017

I'm so glad a stumbled across this movie. Radio announcers occasionally refer to the haunting story of jazz great, Lee Morgan's death before or after playing one of his feature pieces. The documentary is well done using vintage film clips, interviews with family, friends & musicians who played with him, photographs, and recorded conversations of each of the 2 principles - Lee and Helen. I came away better informed but still emotionally conflicted. You don't have to be a jazz head to appreciate this story.

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Kylo S

May 11, 2017

Photography and use of music superb. Wanted more about the LPs and music and Hard Bop. Less on the relationship.

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Kasper Collin

Director

Wayne Shorter

Self

Jymie Merritt

Self

Bennie Maupin

Self

Billy Harper

Self

Art Blakey

Self

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Synopsis

Helen Morgan had nursed her common-law husband, jazz great Lee Morgan, through heroin addiction. On a February night in 1972, she walked into Slug's Saloon in the East Village with a gun in her purse, and after they fought and he physically threw her out of the bar, she returned and shot him. Then, Helen relinquished the gun and waited for the police to come for her. Many years later, she was interviewed about her life with the brilliant and unpredictable musician.

Director: Kasper Collin
Screenwriter: Kasper Collin
Distributor: Submarine Entertainment
Production Co: Kasper Collin Produktion
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $97.7K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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