This film is part of Free

Ronnie Scott
Legendary jazz fan Ronnie Scott talks the future of the musical style he's spent years building an audience for.
Overview
Jazz club owner Ronnie Scott discusses his experiences of bringing the musical genre to new audiences with Canadian broadcaster and journalist Bernard Braden. Scott discusses the jazz legends he's booked for his club, as well as the frustration of not being able to give less well-known performers a stage because of economic pressure. He puffs pensively on a cigarette throughout, making the piece feel very much of its time.
This interview is one of several hundred with public figures recorded for Now and Then, a television series devised by Canadian broadcaster Braden. The intention was to revisit the interviewees at a later date, to see if they had fulfilled their hopes and aspirations. Since the programme never made it to the airwaves, the interviews remain in their unedited original state. A number of Braden's other interviews for the series are also available on BFI Player.
Related

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.