The film of the week this time is THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366996/

This is a really weird film. I just want to say that now. I am very fond of musicals. Heck I grew up watching them. However the genre has become very stale and monotonous over the years. There are very few musicals that try and do something different. This is one that tries to be different, and for the most part it does well. The film is about a beer baroness during the Great Depression organizes a contest to find the saddest music in the world. That sounds somewhat normal, but trust me this film is anything but normal. People from around the world come to try and win the contest, including a shady businessman played by Mark McKinney.

There are a lot of odd things in this film. The beer baroness lost her legs in a car crash, and one character gets life advice from her tapeworm. Most of the film is made to look like a silent film from the 30's. That means a lot of black and white, and out of sync dialogue. This can seem like a gimmick to some, but the black & white mixed with occasional color works well in the context of the film. Eventually the contest boils down to one family. This is where it gets a lot more interesting. I really can't describe the plot too much without spoiling it. I highly recommend this film if you like weirdness. It has a great sense of humor, and a unique visual look that makes it stand out. I have never seen a film like it.