I Called Him Morgan (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 7 nominations
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.
I Called Him Morgan” is a documentary that tells the story of Lee Morgan, a jazz trumpeter, and his wife Helen. It’s a tragic tale of love, success, and betrayal that will leave you feeling emotional and reflective. The film does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the jazz scene in the 1960s and the impact that it had on the lives of those involved. The interviews with Lee’s friends and colleagues are insightful and add depth to the story. Overall, “I Called Him Morgan” is a must-watch for anyone who loves jazz or is interested in the human experience. It’s a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, A Band Apart Jersey Films,
Distributor
Submarine Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2017
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
I Called Him Morgan, documentary, jazz, Lee Morgan, Helen Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jymie Merritt, Bennie Maupin, Billy Harper, Kasper Collin, written by Kasper Collin, directed by Kasper Collin, produced by Submarine Entertainment, reviewed by Kambole Campbell, Chris Vognar, David Jenkins, G Allen Johnson, Adam Graham, Candice Frederick, David Walsh, Richard Propes, Barbara Majsa, Frank Ochieng, Morgan Rojas, Dennis Schwartz, 96% Tomatometer, 82% audience score, $97.7K box office, limited release, English, 1h 32m
Worldwide gross: $128,986
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $155,588
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,975
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 16,967
US/Canada gross: $128,986
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $155,588
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,587
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,902
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,563
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,588
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Helen Morgan – Self
Wayne Shorter – Self
Jymie Merritt – Self
Bennie Maupin – Self
Billy Harper – Self
Director(s)
Kasper Collin
Writer(s)
Kasper Collin
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (2)
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.
August 25, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
One Room With A View
TOP CRITIC
I Called Him Morgan is a first-rate documentary. It’s also the perfect impetus to explore Morgan’s catalogue.
June 21, 2018
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
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.
July 28, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately, Collin’s film is one of forgiveness.
April 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/4
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“I Called Him Morgan” works as a jazz documentary as well as a bizarre true crime tale about a mysterious crime of passion. All these years later, many questions remain.
April 21, 2017 | Rating: B
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Much of these details could be found on Morgan’s extensive Wikipedia page, and they don’t do much to explain why a movie was essential.
April 14, 2017
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
It’s a sad story. Collin tells it intelligently and carefully, with almost no missteps.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A human story about two starkly different yet remarkably similar humans.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The interviews done with Lee’s friends hit a genuinely personal tone effortlessly, which is beyond doubt one of the director’s greatest merits.
March 21, 2020
Barbara Majsa
barbaramajsa.com
There has not been a penetrating and provocative documentary in my recent memory that chronicles with such curiosity, the insight and intimacy into the musical process and romantic partnership disillusionment
March 1, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Frank Ochieng
The Critical Movie Critics
For those interested in learning more about the history of the Jazz community, or even for those familiar with Lee Morgan and just want to hear Helen’s side of the story, this documentary is enthralling from start to finish.
August 6, 2018
Morgan Rojas
Cinemacy
It’s a moving portrait of the great jazz trumpeter and of the tragedy that befell him, as seen through the eyes of his woman.
July 11, 2018 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
I Called Him Morgan is a documentary about the life and tragic death of jazz musician Lee Morgan, as told through the perspective of his common-law wife and killer, Helen Morgan.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter and Bennie Maupin.
Kasper-Collin.jpg
