Editorial Review

Part concert documentary, part pop-cultural time capsule, Bert Stern's Read more

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• Color
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered
• NTSC

Reviews (30)

For die-hard jazz fans
I appreciate the reviews in which it is suggested that viewers try to experience this film in a broader context--as a time capsule of an era. However, as an avid fan of Anita O'Day, I was deeply frustrated by the camera's focus on odd-looking (check out the chick eating the ice cream cone!), and apparently disinterested listeners in the audience, when the camera should have been focused on this amazing singer. Still, because O'Day--at the height of her sensuous form-- remains sadly undocumented on film, this is the best we've got.

Jazz on a Summer's Day
My personal 50s sci-fi favorite, "Invasion" is an ingenious nightmare vision that reflects the paranoia of the time created by McCarthyism.Absent of the effects that characterize more recent entries in this genre, the film remains genuinely creepy strictly on the basis of story, direction and performances.

Marks the end of the reign of Jazz
Bert Stein captures the Newport Jazz festival of 1958 in vivid color and with clarity. While jazz is the primary focus of the film, Stein does meander to the America's Cup race that was being contested off Newport at the time, along with some diversionary local flavor, which gives us a sense of what it was like to actually be there. Continuing along this vein, during the festival itself, Stein spends much of his camera time observing the audience caught unaware reacting to jazz on a summer day; after all, live music does not exist in a vacuum. It's this footage along with the incredible jazz music that makes this documentary really special. As a viewer we get to react to the music, and react to the audience reacting to the music. That girl with the seductively cute smile in the yellow dress, and that gruff man hiding behind the shades with the nervous twitch are people that we can connect to from our own personal experiences at open air summer concerts. The feeling of community one gets as the music breaks down the barriers and the sun begins to set. Stein allows his moving compositions to develop and flesh out the character of his subjects, giving us a nostalgic feeling for a time gone by that may have occurred long before we were even born. It does not matter because we are there! But this particular slice of time has special significance, because jazz would soon be replaced in popularity by Rock & Roll. We watch it happen before our eyes as a young Chuck Berry takes the stage. Backed by some excellent jazz musicians, all looking "amused" but not taking very seriously the music that would knock them off the charts for good within a couple of years. As Berry's classic Rock & Roll riffs project across the audience, young people spontaneously jump to their feet and start moving to the rhythm while their parents watch, perplexed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Drama    3. Movie    4. Music Video    5. Music Video - Jazz    6. Performance   

Features

• Black & White
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Music Video - Jazz   

Editorial Review

This little-seen, 1947 drama is a treat for jazz fans, thanks to an otherwise creaky, if nobly intentioned story built around the music's Crescent City genesis that provides an ample excuse to turn the camera on authentic jazz greats. Nick Duquesne (Arturo De Cordova) is a Bourbon Street charmer whose gambling club provides the mythic stomping grounds for none other than Louis Armstrong, whose vocalizing sweetheart Endie, played by none other than Billie Holiday, proves no slouch herself. A newly arrived debutante, Miralee (Dorothy Patrick), arrives in New Orleans and falls first for the music and then for the roguish but ultimately gallant Nick. The movie follows knee-jerk plot machinations revolving around her family's efforts to excise Nick from her life, her own dream of mingling jazz and classical music, and the gambler's transformation into a jazz promoter.Read more

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• Black & White
• NTSC

Reviews (6)

A jazz enthusiast must see
I am so very glad I bought it, as a person who loves great music and provocative movies, with love as a theme, in all vernaculars (except hip-hop), and a jazz enthusiast at heart it's a love story dotted with great musical contributions from the authentic jazz greats, Louie Armstrong and Billie Holiday to name a few.

Forget the story!
The film itself it trite and inconsequential. Buy this for the music alone. It's a delight to see Louis Armstrong in such a casual environment, with so many jazz legends, not to mention one of Billie Holiday's rare movie appearances. This DVD is honestly a treasure.

Great footage of many early jazz legends
I have always found jazz performances much more captivating live rather than recorded, and although I can't travel back in time and see Louis Armstrong play during his prime, this video is the next best thing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Movie    2. Musical Features    3. Musicals    4. Musicals & Cast Recordings    5. Musicals (Theatrical)   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Features

• Black & White
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Sinatra/Gleason tape , Armstrong tape better.
Comes on two tapes.Sinatra/Gleason tape is from the Frank Sinatra Show (early 50's).Poor visual quality at times, very vaudville, with plenty ofSinatra singing.Gleason playing a big shot, manages to con Sinatra intobuying an old broken down cabin, claiming it was a wonderful weekend getaway.Once they arrive the two of them try to survive the weekend tryingto hunt and eat a moose. The second tape is a special by "Edsel"with the host being Bing Crosby and Sinatra the co-host.This is a varietyshow with tons of music melodies.Armstrong performs two songs with thefirst being the part of the opening number.If you like Armstrong like Ido, you'll greatly enjoy this bit.Bob Hope is a surprise guest. Definetlythe Armstrong tape is more enjoyable than the Gleason tape. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Pop Vocals    3. Standards    4. Television    5. Traditional Pop    6. United States of America    7. Vocal    8. Vocal Jazz   

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• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (12)

Sinatra Synchonicity
Life is full of coincidences. I recently received an email from another Amazon reviewer who was kind enough to drop me a line complimenting on some on my reviews on this site.This only rarely occurs, so it seemed particularly striking that the gentleman in question also mentioned being a big Sinatra fan.I have only posted a few reviews relating to Sinatra projects, and none of them were among those that my correspondent was referring to, so the mention seemed to be apropos of nothing I had written.
Timeless, old school cool ...
Frank Sinatra was undisputably a one man show unto himself, but when he performed with others, there was a fantastic synergy -- a more than the sum-of-its-parts type of excitement -- as evidenced by most of the clips on this DVD (a must-own for any Sinatra fan.)
It doesn't get any better
I wish I was as eloquent as the real reviewers, but I'm just a guy who likes good music; Frank made good music.If for nothing else, buy this for the clip of Frank and Peggy Lee - it's oooozing with sensuality.After that, if only for Frank and Dinah Shore, Louis Armstrong and the closing medley with Deano - the rest of the clips are gravy baby.This one is worth every penny . . . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music Video    2. Music Video-middle Of The Road    3. Performance    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Standards    7. Traditional Pop    8. United States of America    9. Vocal    10. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

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Features

• Black & White
• Color
• Compilation
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

Bix may have been playing
In the Whiteman clip, it still is possible that Bix wasn't faking it.He was a self-taught trumpet player, and all of his fingerings are completely different from anyone else's.As for the different cut off, I'm not sure.But I don't think anyone should discredit the Bix clip entirely.He had his own style of playing.

Mixed Bag; For The True Devotee
A nice selection of rare material is undercut by the presentation here. Many films have been poorly framed so that people's heads are cropped - God, it's annoying, did no one look at this before it was released? Audio is generally as good as source material permits. As for the Bix clip - yep, there he (barely) is, in the brass section, FAKING his way through "My Ohio Home" (watch his fingering, it doesn't match the arrangement, and he stops playing before the rest of the section). So this is not the "only sound film document" of Bix playing - he ain't playing. There is no tray insert with any background info or even a track list, and nothing onscreen to indicate what you're watching, so you'll need to have the box handy. Nobody went out of their way to upgrade this for DVD, that's for sure. If you have the VHS, you don't need this. Four stars for material, docked one star for presentation.

Good Compliation-look for more
This is an excellent compilation of rare material, and it a must have for the great Boswell Sisters material, the shot of Bix in Whiteman's trumpet section (not soloing as the box says), the "dance contest" with Chick Webb's 1929 band (which released only 1 78), closeups of Duke's 1929 band-Wellman Braud, Sonny Greer, young Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges (soloing on soprano), Freddy Jenkins, Artie Whetsol, Cootie Williams...Read more

Subjects:  1. Big Band    2. Classic Jazz    3. Jazz    4. Jazz Collections    5. Music Video    6. Music Video - Jazz    7. Performance    8. Pop    9. Swing    10. V/a Compilations   

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (7)

The best of Satch on DVD (so far), Swiss Krissly yours!
I would agree that this is by far the best DVD documentaty of Satch so far (the commendable Ken Burns' Satch segment are spread throughout the series, although quite well done). It handles all the major issues (including the rarely discussed issue of Louis Daniel Armstrong's foray into civil rights) and gives a pretty complete portrait of Louis Armstrong the man and what made him so special.
Disappointed
I strongly disagree with the other reviews.While the DVD is a good documentary of Louis Armstrong's life, it only has "imbedded" songs, and the menus are not set up to go to the songs, so you have to search for them.Unless you enjoy watching the documentary over and over, this is not way to enjoy his music. I wish I could view the songs without having to shift though a bunch of commentary.

Pops at his best
This biography is very well produced and is worth the money just for the performance scenes. I find myself watching certain segments over and over. Watching Louis and Jack Teagagarden performing Rockin' Chair or the older clips of a young Louis performing in Denmark are just pure joy. A clip from the movie New Orleans with Louis and Billie Holiday is a show-stopper. I absolutely love this DVD and highly recommend it to anyone who is a Louis Armstrong fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classic Jazz    2. Dixieland    3. Jazz    4. Music Video - Jazz    5. New Orleans Jazz    6. Pop    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Music Video - Jazz   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

bix
If you are a Bix fan, this is as good as it gets. No more to say, the video says it all. Don't miss it.

Short life, long legend
You won't do better in video format than to check out this vid. Lot's of interviews with people that actually knew him. Lot's of shots of where he played. Very heartfelt production. I've read all the books and this stands right up there with the best. You can't be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Music Video - Jazz   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Television   

Features

• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Music Video - Jazz   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Music Video - Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk    4. Rock   

Features

• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Television   

Features

• Black & White
• Compilation
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Music Video - Jazz    2. Pop    3. V/a Compilations   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

A short glimpse at the GREAT Satchmo
I recently viewed this tape at my school library. I was amazed to see the good picture quality and great sound. The only let down was that I felt the video is too short in length. Nevertheless, it's Louis Armstrong along with other great players like Trummy Young and Billy Kyle. The songs are awesome to hear but it is even better to see Louis and his band play them. A must for Armstrong fans!!!! It is NOT a documentary, it is strictly Louis Armstrong at his best singing the songs we have come to love so much. A great video and I highly recommend it.

Louis rocks
Louis is the man...What more can be said?....... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classic Jazz    2. Jazz    3. Jazz Traditional    4. Music Video - Jazz    5. New Orleans Jazz    6. Pop    7. Swing    8. Trad Jazz    9. Traditional Pop   

Editorial Review

You would think there couldn't be anything else to say about Louis Armstrong after Ken Burns's Read more

Features

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• Color
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Reviews (3)

Suprisingly good, Very Different
Definitely worth the watch. The use of abstract imagery crates a compelling backdrop to the life of Louis Armstrong. The creative imagery lends resonance to the narration and substance of the documentary. Lots of footage of Louis I have never seen and it is narrated by Danny Glover. Some would call the documentary style "experimental" but I consider it genius. This is a warts and all doc that gave me a view of Armstrong I have not experienced before.
Too simplified-wasteful overview
This DVD was a big disappointment.It does not convey "why" Louis Armstrong was so great.The documentary jumps around a lot and sometimes misses big parts of Armstrong's life. In fact there is very little Louis Armstrong on this DVD. If you want to know more about Louis Armstrong I'd recommend Gary Giddins' "Louis Armstrong: Satchmo" or Ken Burns' "Jazz" both on DVD. "The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong" does not show the the magic or genius that was Louis Armstrong.Pops is Tops!!!

Superior
I have seen many music DVD but Louis Armstrong is really different that others. He is a real classic and don't miss to listen and watch him. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Features

• Best of
• Color
• Live
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Music Video - Jazz    3. Pop   

Features

• Best of
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Soundtrack
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Music Video - Pop/Rock    3. Pop   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Live
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Music Video - Jazz    3. Pop