Blues Movies

Subject: Blues Movies
From:
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 06:17 PM

I would like to know if anyone knows where I can find a good list of movies centered around the blues. Modern or old, I just want to see some movies with good blues music and stories, whether they are documentary type or drama .Feel free to e mail me if you know of some good movie titles. Thanks

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Jon W.
Date: 17 Dec 97 - 07:06 PM

One I saw that was fairly good was "Crossroads." It's just like "The Karate Kid" except the star, Ralph Macchio, does blues instead of karate. In the opening scenes there is a re-creation of Robert Johnson recording the title song that was just chilling to me. Unfortunately the rest of the movie didn't quite live up to it.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: dwditty
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 06:08 AM

Crossroads was an interesting attempt to bring the delta blues to a teen audience. I, too, have also described it as the Karate Kid learns the blues. I don't think it was successful, but it had its musical moments - the music was done by Ry Cooder. In particular, the scene in the juke joint (Call Me Willie) and thefinal 20 minute session where the kid cuts heads with the devil are worth the 90 minute investment of time.
My favorite, though, is Searching for Robert Johnson. In this film (approx 1 hour),John Hammond tours the delta interviewing people who knew Robert, including the original Willie Mae - a very tender moment. He also "cuts heads" with some of the players still in that area and performs some of Robert's tunes as well. Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop has a large collection of vintage videos of blues greats. I don't know the phone number, but it is Sparta, New Jersey. Contact them and they will send a catalog.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Peter H.
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 03:22 PM

There was a docudrama shown years ago on cable about Leadbelly. I think that was the name of it, also. Gordon Parks Jr. had something to do with it.

Also, I've read and heard about a documentary called "Deep Blue" or "Deep Blues," supposedly done by by Dave Stewart (the same guy from the Eurythmics?). I know for sure it was released theatrically several years ago, but don't know that it was ever put out on video (I've been looking for it). I even found something on the web about a soundtrack album on Atlantic, compiled by the late rock journalist Robert Palmer, but can't find that, either.

There was also a documentary called "Good Morning, Blues" that I found at the local library. It might have been an old PBS production.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Earl
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 04:12 PM

There's a good documentary called "Louis Bluey" about Howard Armstrong (aka Louis Bluey) a black fiddler/mandolin player. Not strictly blues, but pretty close.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 06:15 PM

Geez, guys, ya mean "Blues Brothers" doesn't count? Darn!

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Bert
Date: 19 Dec 97 - 11:08 AM

I prefer Blue Movies myself.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 26 Oct 17 - 01:48 PM

St. Louis Blues (1929): the only short movie with Bessie Smith

Sounder (1972)

Lady Sings The Blues (1972): about Billie Holiday

Leadbelly (1976): biographical film about Huddie William Ledbetter

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Streets of Fire (1984)

Crossroads (1986): directed by Walter Hill, about a "deal with the devil", with a soundtrack by Ry Cooder and a guitar duel between Ralph Macchio and Steve Vai

Mo' Better Blues (1990)

The Search for Robert Johnson (1991): documentary aiming to discover facts and myths about the infamous blues guitarist

Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Blues, a Musical Journey (2003): Martin Scorsese produced seven documentaries about the blues:

Feel Like Going Home (Martin Scorsese): about the African origins of the blues

The Soul of a Man (Wim Wenders): about Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J. B. Lenoir

The Road to Memphis (Richard Pearce) : focuses on B. B. King's contributions

Warming by the Devil's Fire (Charles Burnett): fiction on a blues-based theme

Godfathers and Sons (Marc Levin): about Chicago blues and hip-hop

Red, White & Blues (Mike Figgis): about British blues-influenced music (e.g., Tom Jones, Van Morrison)

Piano Blues 2003 (Clint Eastwood): focuses on blues pianists such as Ray Charles and Dr. John

Ray (2004)

Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour (2005): Max Shores documentary about R. L. Burnside, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, Richard Johnston, and other north Mississippi hill country blues musicians

You See Me Laughin' (2005): directed by Mandy Stein, documentary that takes a look at the often untamed lifestyles of the last great North Mississippi bluesmen and the Oxford, Mississippi?based label (Fat Possum Records) that struggles to record them

Black Snake Moan (2007)

Honeydripper (2007)

Cadillac Records (2008)

Who Do You Love? (2008)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_about_blues_music

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 27 Oct 17 - 03:15 AM

Too Late Blues (1961?) although it may lean more towards jazz.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Oct 17 - 09:41 AM

I guess those feature films with
Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five
are rhythm and blues, not blues as such.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Oct 17 - 11:01 AM

Black Snake moan

young man with a horn -not as raunchy as the title suggests. Kirk Douglas and Doris day smouldering ballads. trumpet by Harry James.

There is an Italian biog of Bix - but I've never tracked it down.

On youtube theres a great biog in three parts about Bix beiderbecke.

theres also a great documentary about Lightnin' hopkins.

Commercially available are good John Lee Hooker dvds.

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 27 Oct 17 - 01:46 PM

Pete Kelly's blues
Paggy Lee's I Don't Wanna Play in Your Yard still haunts me
Jim carroll

Subject: RE: Blues Movies
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 04:17 PM

A bit off topic but there is a 3 Cd set called "Blues at the movies".