Sweet and Lowdown

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"Sweet and Lowdown" focused on the life of fictional jazz guitarist Emmett Ray. Emmett was an arrogant, obnoxious, alcohol-abusing, miserable human being, who was also arguably the best guitarist in the world. He trys his hardest in the movie to not become attached to anyone because he is an artist and needs to be free. This is easy for him to do with Hattie, for she is mute. Hattie has no choice but to listen to Emmet since she can speak. She is the ideal incarnation of the dumb blonde, the ultimate match for her loverХs verbal diarrhea. Though Emmet is at first put out by HattieХs handicap, he quickly comes to see it as a virtue, since it allows him to treat her as an object. When Hattie expresses sexual desire (by hastily undressing), her lover is paralyzed and the thought of a woman falling in love with him would do the same. If Emmett Ray would permit the same range and depth of expression into his personal life that he pours into his playing, he might be a happier, less dissolute man.

Thru out the movie "Sweet and Low down" Emmett Ray repeatedly referred to himself as the worlds best guitar player. Emmet's superficial diminishment's of Django, whom he consistently refers to as "that Gypsy over in France," completely fail to conceal his envy and, moreover, his reverence for the man. On the two occasions when the two men's paths have nearly crossed, Emmet has either bolted from the room or passed out from nervous anxiety. The unwillingness of him to perceive and recognize his artistic superior enables him to perform and freezes him at the mer mention of the name of Django. By avoiding contact with Django, he kept himself from facing his fear of only being second best. Thus Emmett Ray was a very insecure person.