Filmed at the 1985 friscofest, louies unique afroamerican string band shares the stage with cab calloway and with les blank and alan governar in an entertaining number about the ups and downs of. But i think his best movie is louie bluie, a documentary about the charismatic. Zwigoff tracked down armstrong, who had moved to detroit, and talked armstrong and bogan into appearing in a film, and louie bluie is that film, filled with music and life and humor, but also with an extraordinary portrait of howard armstrong, who is an artist, poet, composer, violin virtuoso, storyteller and tireless womanizer according to many of his stories. This film is not currently playing on mubi but 30 other great films are. I rarely see a film made these days that i get excited about, but i find myself watching a lot of films from the 1940s and 50s over and over again. Wow what a character, artist, musician story teller. Filmed at the 1985 friscofest, louies unique afroamerican string band shares. This movie is introduced by director terry zwigoff crumb as a search for 1930s bluesman howard louie bluie armstrong and the style of music known as stringblues. Howard louie bluie armstrong march 4, 1909 july 30, 2003 was an american string band. However, it rapidly evolves into more than the average documentary on music. Filmed at the 1985 friscofest, louies unique afroamerican string band shares the. Louie bluie criterion collection dvd 1985 criterion.
Provided to youtube by arhoolie records wrap your troubles in dreams howard armstrong louie bluie film soundtrack. Gymkata is one of the pinnacle films that gave moviesucktastic its humble beginnings. Louie bluie streaming full movie online 1985 english. This documentary focuses on william howard taft armstrong, better known as louie bluie, a tennessee blues musician and folk artist known for his ability to play just about every stringed instrument known to man. Director terry zwigoff tells us that if he had been aware of how few independent documentaries ever find an audience, he would never have tried to make louie bluie, his delightful hourlong film about an enormously talented and entertaining blues musician. Louie bluie terry zwigoff united states, 1985 crumb director terry zwigoffs first film is a true treat. Louie bluie clip 1985 the criterion collection youtube. A san francisco resident, zwigoff held numerous jobs, including musician, shipping clerk, printer, and welfare office worker, before he made his first foray into film in the 1980s with his documentary short louie bluie 1985. Full of infectious music and comedy, louie bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of popcultural marginalia that zwigoff would continue to excavate in the. The debut film from crumb director terry zwigoff is an absorbing, idiosyncratic documentary about legendary country blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist howard louie bluie armstrong. Film director terry zwigoff is probably best know for crumb, his documentary. Howard louie bluie armstrong is full of colorful stories about music, women, and growing up down south in the early years of the twentieth century. Louie bluie full movie online, watch free 4k hd, louie bluie watch movie full movie 1985 crumb director terry zwigoffs first film is a true treat.
Full of infectious music and comedy, louie bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of popcultural. Full of infectious music and comedy, louie bluie is. Terry zwigoff revisits louie bluie fretboard journal. Directed by terry zwigoff 1985 united states crumb director terry zwigoffs first film is a true treat.
String band leader howard armstrong louie bluie is the joyful, emotive, strutting. Hes got a jukebox full of old stories and oneliners. Find bio, credits and filmography information for terry zwigoff on allmovie. Terry zwigoff born may 18, 1949 citation needed is an american filmmaker whose work often deals with misfits, antiheroes, and themes of alienation. Howard armstrong i 19092003 art department composer howard armstrong was born on march 4, 1909 in dayton, tennessee, usa as william howard taft. Coming soon to theaters weekend earnings certified fresh movies.
Overview of louie bluie, 1985, directed by terry zwigoff, with howard armstrong, howard armstrong, ted bogan, at turner classic movies. Full of infectious music and comedy, louie bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of popcultural marginalia that zwigoff would continue to excavate in the coming. Zwigoffs debut film, the documentary louie bluie 1985 tells the story of howard armstrong, a fiddle and mandolin virtuoso who ages ago recorded one of zwigoffs favorite records, state street rag. Bad movies like this are what fuels scott and joey to do mst. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject, and zwigoff honors him with an unsentimental but endlessly affectionate tribute. It is a sad fact not much recording or footage of these old time black players is available. He designed the juke joint set for the 1985 oscarnominated film version of the color purple. He first garnered attention for his work in documentary filmmaking with louie bluie 1985 and crumb 1994. Nightwish live at wacken open air 20 hd full concert. S an francisco filmmaker terry zwigoffs first cinematic effort, the 1985 louie bluie, is a wry, ribald, and magical portrait of the countryblues string band player and irrepressible raconteur howard armstrong a. Howard louie bluie armstrong march 4, 1909 july 30, 2003 was an american string band and country blues musician, who played fiddle, mandolin, and guitar and sang. For years louie bluie, which was released in 1985, was unavailable except. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject. A portrait of an obscure blues artist, louie bluie revealed zwigoff to be an able documentarian and presaged his personal passion for.
Zwigoff spent his life savings to launch the film on the hope that an arts foundation would like what they saw and grant him. Charley patton screamin and hollerin sleepy john estes louie bluie yank rachell son. Howard louie bluie armstrong, a uniquely american musician whose acclaimed career stretched from the roaring 20s into the new millennium, died wednesday in boston at 94. Born in tennessee to a family of musicians, howard went on to become a master blues artist and unconventional illustrator, and both of his chosen art forms are featured prominently in this intimate documentary. Simply put, louie bluie is one of the best usages of film ever. This catchy, engaging sixtyminute documentary, a clattering stream of anecdotes, badinage, and jam sessions, captures an. Hes played blues, country and traditional italian music. Louie bluie peers into the areas where nothing is certain, except that these people live and strive and laugh and make music.
Louie bluie 1985 this documentary focuses on william howard taft armstrong, better known as louie bluie, a tennessee blues musician and folk. Terry zwigoff celebrity profile check out the latest terry zwigoff photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Rent louie bluie 1985 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The documentary finds him still spry in his mid70s, and he lived another 18 years after the film was released.
Rent louie bluie 1985 starring howard armstrong and ted bogan on dvd and bluray. Terry zwigoff biography, movie highlights and photos. After crumb, zwigoff moved on to write and direct fiction feature films, including the academy award nominated ghost. Hes been playing the fiddle and mandolin in black blues string bands since the 20s, when they recored. Filmed at the 1985 friscofest, louies unique afroamerican string band shares the stage with cab calloway and with les blank and alan governar in an. Louie bluie 1985 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Howard louie bluie armstrong of dayton, tennessee is in his mid70s here, wise as a sage, crazy in the right ways, a lover of music and women and full of a much younger mans energy. Louie bluie shares a surprising amount in common with crumb, zwigoffs 1994 masterpiece, in that it follows an idiosyncratic artist obsessed with his own sexual fetishes and in love with old music.