Always For Pleasure (1978)

Les Blank’s celebration of the spirit and social traditions of New Orleans, featuring Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It is an intense insider’s portrait of New Orleans’ street celebrations and the unique cultural gumbo of Second-line parades, Mardi Gras, and the Jazz Fest. The film features live music by Professor Longhair, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Kid Thomas Valentine and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among Blank’s special masterworks.

On September 25, 2008, Famed New Orleans Jazz photographer Michael P. Smith died. Les Blank said, “Mike Smith encouraged me to make Always For Pleasure and helped me access nearly all the subjects visited in this film.”

Directed, photographed, edited, produced by Les Blank
Sound by Maureen Gosling
58 minutes
1978

  • For U.S. Educational, Theatrical and Television rights, please contact Janus Films
  • For International, Licensing and all other rights please contact Les Blank Films

Ways to watch

* Box Set contains fourteen Les Blank films remastered by Criterion (average price $6.25 per film!)

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