Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?

Subject: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,ireneVR
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 09:13 PM

I was wondering if there is anywhere- website, etc, that I could find the Leadbelly movie made in the 70s??

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 09:19 PM

It was made for PBS, incidentally.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 09:21 PM

The title is Leadbelly (1976) and it was directed by Gordon Parks. One place I looked contained a post that read (paraphrased) "We looked long and hard and it took a number of e-mails but eventually we were able to purchase it." FYI

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:51 AM

IF YOU FIND ANYWHERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'D LOVE TO SEE IT

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 11:02 AM

Try E-bay, type LEADBELLY, I see it there every once and a while.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 11:08 AM

It was made for PBS? I thought it was a theatrical release.   From what I recall of the film, it wasn't very good - or accurate.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 12:42 PM

Daddy(John Henry Faulk) was in a movie "about Leadbelly" during that time. It was a commercially made movie. He said it was just an excuse to make a black propaganda/action flick. Didn't seem to be too concerned with accuracy, but with publicity, prevalent at the time, about black bluesmen inspiring the music of (Brit & Amer.)rock stars. He was very disappointed when he saw it. (He only had a bit part, but was invited to an early screening.)             Tw

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 06:40 PM

I have a copy and, while it's not as good as it could of been, it wasn't Gordon Park's(the director) fault. More of a problem with studio poloitics(See the THE LIFE & LEGEND OF LEAD BELLY for more info). It was available on DVD this morning on E-bay for 25 bucks or so.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,Marti
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 11:55 PM

I am desperate to find the old Lead belly movie before my dad dies, he is dying of cancer right now and his final wish is to have that old darn movie. price is of little opetion, please someone contact me. my home e mail is [e-mail] or cal me at 713-869-8055

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:07 AM

Marti - check e-bay because there are several available at the moment.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:57 AM

here for actual footage of the man himself.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:58 AM

here for the movie.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:59 AM

and here for the duelling guitars scene from the movie

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:02 PM

On all of the above links you'll find more links on the right hand side of each page.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:06 PM

Marti, it could be a good idea to join the mudcat and then PM people your details if they are able to help. As things stand they are available to all and sundry on a public forum.

If you agree with me you could post a request on this thread to have your post edited so that they are removed.

The rest is up to you.

Good luck getting the movie.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Doc John
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 03:28 PM

Marti, good luck in finding a copy; I do hope you're successful. Thanks iox for finding the links.
Doc John

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 04:03 PM

Well done , Lox, and bets regards to you Marti.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: dwditty
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 04:07 PM

Also, try contacting Stefan Grossman at www.guitarvideos.com

dw

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 05:12 PM

Got one (VHS) at Ebay a couple of months back. The best chance is there.
Disliked by the politically correct of both the black and white communities, it is doubtful that it will ever make it to DVD.

It takes liberties with the truth, but I thought it was a pretty good effort by Parks. It was a studio film, but it mostly played arts theatres, and was shown on PBS.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Doc John
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 05:14 PM

I enjoyed the footage from the Lead Belly film. I thought the music was far superior to that in 'Bound for Glory', which is not at all good although I enjoyed the film itsef. Does anyone know why the character in 'Bound for Glory', who seems to be a Cisco Houston/Will Geer/Lefy Lou composite(and has the Cisco tash) was created and where the odd name came from.
Doc John

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 06:28 AM

Didn't the broadcaster David Frost have something to do with the movie? One thing that sticks in my mind from the movie was a worksong/chant ( Ain't No More cane/ Go down Hannah?) which was done with string backing and in my memory in worked really well.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 03:28 PM

Just want to say the DVD of this movie was waiting for me on the mat when I got home from Fylde last night. I had been waiting for years to get a copy.

I thought it was absolutely terrific. I can understand why both white and black communities in America don't want to dwell on this period. Of course I can.

But as a musiian, this movie has unlocked a door for me which has been sealed for many years. I simply couldn't see what the fuss was about with Leadbelly. I heard people like Pete Seeger saying - the introduction to Fanin Street was a masterpiece, but I couldn't get what he was talking about. Now, I do!

Some of the brutality of the film I will have to skip through when I re-watch this film again. But the setting of Riley Walked the Water as the hounds chased after the escaping prisoner was just stunning. It unlocked a song - that had simply passed over my head.

The acting performances from all the actors were terrific and the music from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee amongst others was some of the best I've ever heard to any film.

I will be checking the careers of the other actors and musicians on Google in the next few days to see what else they have achieved. But that film was outstanding and should be on school syllabuses.

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 01:58 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:27 PM

Glad you got the DVD, which I didn't find listed when I got a VHS.
The DVD is $9.95 at HKflix:
Leadbelly

Subject: RE: Anywhere to get Leadbelly movie?
From: GUEST,santaslittlehelper
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 11:12 AM

You Can find a copy on demonoid