GordonCole Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 There seems to be a dearth of films with any connection to the blues. Why I ask is that? One would think with the most interesting lives led by people like Robert Johnson, Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Ma Rainey, Buddy Guy, Nellie Lutcher and so on that the movies would want to tell their stories. I can't even think of many films with any blues performers featured, though sometimes they are in documentary style films of concert or festivals. If you can add any to this post that are worth seeing, please share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Cadillac Records (2008) featured Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf as main characters, as well as Etta James and Chuck Berry. Crossroads (1986) was inspired by the Robert Johnson legend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonCole Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 7 minutes ago, LawrenceA said: Cadillac Records (2008) featured Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf as main characters, as well as Etta James and Chuck Berry. Crossroads (1986) was inspired by the Robert Johnson legend. Thanx. I think I neglected seeing Crossroads due to a friend's less than sterling review, but I would have insisted on seeing it if the title had been Stones in My Passway. Forgot about the Muddy Waters film, which was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukhov Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonCole Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 49 minutes ago, Gershwin fan said: Cab Calloway, what a great character and performer. Would have loved to have seen him as Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess on the stage, and I think Dubose Heyward would approve. I imagine him in a Zoot Suit singing Hi De Ho with Dizzy in an afterlife, which is much more entertaining than seeing Red Buttons sing the Ho Ho Song. Thanx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt_Markoff Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 My opinion: 'blues' doesn't fit the manic national zeal for positive-thinking, progress, Yankee ingenuity, 'we-can-do-it', 'get it done', self-help, happy endings, and new technology Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonCole Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 49 minutes ago, Sgt_Markoff said: My opinion: 'blues' doesn't fit the manic national zeal for positive-thinking, progress, Yankee ingenuity, 'we-can-do-it', 'get it done', self-help, happy endings, and new technology Whoa...I get it now. Too realistic for the lower echelons way below the powers that be, to see as they might become anarchists, eh? Thanks, Sarge for opening up my eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spauldingd Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Black Snake Moan (2006) has a great deal of blues. It’s much better than it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Well, there's Blues in the Night (d. Anatole Litvak, 1941), and Paris Blues (d. Martin Ritt, 1961). However, I suppose it could be argued that neither of these feature true blues musicians, or are even really about blues music. (But they're both kind of fun.) There's also the much more recent Honeydripper (d. John Sayles, 2007) which actually does feature a lot of blues music. And it too, is fun. (at least, I thought it was...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedya Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 There's lots of blues in the movies: just look at how teal (and orange) dominates the color palettes of most movies these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikisoo Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 My favorite is ALL THE FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS '60 which always reminds me of tortured fave trumpeter Chet Baker. There just aren't enough movies with Susan Kohner, imho. I was lucky enough to meet Cab Calloway when he made a special trip to his birthplace, Rochester NY. I told him I bought my first horse based on her name, Minnie The Moocher. He laughed and asked, "is she a white horse?" yes, she was! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solafide Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Not that it was inspired by Blues or Jazz but there is some good references too it and a couple of scenes in Collateral with Tom Cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Mark Isham score Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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