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Sale!Talking Feet (1992) Mike Seeger, the renowned old-time folk musician and musical historian, has produced the first documentary about Southern-style solo mountain dancing. This exciting film showcases clogging, flatfoot, buck, hoedown, and rural tap dancing. 87 minutes, video only. ISBN: 0-933621-50-7.
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Sale!Zydeco (1984) Produced and directed by Nick Spitzer. An enduring ethnographic portrait of zydeco’s beloved musical families and their Creole identity as seen at home, in local clubs, at work and running Mardi Gras. With the Carrière Brothers, “Bois Sec” Ardoin, John Delafose and Delton Broussard. English narration, with interviews in Louisiana French. English subtitles. 57 minutes. ISBN 0-933621-35-3.
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Note:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janusfilms dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
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NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank FilmsHome DVD Includes:
- Bonus short "The Maestro Rides Again"
- A 30 minute update on the Maestro's artwork.
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Sale!Turumba (1983) Set in a tiny Philippine village, the inimitable Kidlat Tahimik's film focuses on a family that makes paper-mache animals to sell during the traditional Turumba festivities. One year, a department store buyer purchases all their stock. When she returns with an order for 500 more (this time with the word "Oktoberfest" painted on them), the family's seasonal occupation becomes year-round alienated labor. 94 minutes. ISBN: 0-933621-29-9.
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Sale!NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
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Sale!NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international theatrical rights please contact: Les Blank Films
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Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together (1982) This celebrated video by Stevenson Palfi features the best piano "professors" of the last three generations: New Orleans' keyboard aces Isidore "Toots" Washington, Henry "Professor Longhair" Byrd, and Allen Toussaint. One of the most important and exciting explorations of New Orleans' musical tradition ever made. 76 minutes.
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Sale!NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
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PLEASE NOTE: This box set is only available from our website for HOME use. If you wish to purchase this collection for a school or library please contact: Criterion.
Overview
An uncompromisingly independent filmmaker, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams) made documentaries for nearly fifty years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen—mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad. Seemingly off-the-cuff yet poetically constructed, these films are humane, sometimes wry, always engaging tributes to musicians, food, and all sorts of regionally specific delights. This collector’s set put out by criterion (see review) provides a diverse survey of Les Blank’s vast output, including the warmly funny, The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, about the legendary Texas musician; Always for Pleasure, which captures the vivacious spirit of New Orleans; Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers, a hilarious celebration of the pungent, flavorful “stinking rose” of the title; and eleven other unexpected features, plus eight of Blank’s short films. FILMS INCLUDED: A Well Spent Life (1971) Always for Pleasure (1978) Dry Wood (1973) Gap-Toothed Women (1987) Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980 God Respects Us When We Work, but Loves Us When We Dance (1968) Hot Pepper (1973) In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984) Spend It All (1971) Sprout Wings and Fly (1983) Sworn to the Drum (1995) The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (1968) The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1994) Yum, Yum, Yum (1990)BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New 2K digital restorations of all fourteen films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks • Excerpt from Les Blank: A Quiet Revelation, an upcoming documentary by Gina Leibrecht and Harrod Blank • New interviews with director Les Blank’s sons, Harrod and Beau; Blank documentary subject Gerald Gaxiola (a.k.a. the Maestro); filmmakers Skip Gerson, Maureen Gosling, Taylor Hackford, Tom Luddy, and Chris Simon; and chef and author Alice Waters • Blank’s short films Lightnin’ Les (1968), Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down (1968), The Sun’s Gonna Shine (1968), More Fess (1978), Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge (1991), My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge (1995), and The Maestro Rides Again (2005) • PLUS: An essay by film scholar Andrew HortonProduct Details
Release Date: 11/25/2014 UPC: 715515119412 Rating: Source: Criterion Region Code: A Presentation: Special Edition / Restored Time: 9:23:00 Format: Blu-ray This is a home use license (not for public screenings) -
Sale!NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
- My Old Fiddle: A Visit With Tommy Jerrell
- Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge
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Sale!NOTE:
- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
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Sale!Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985) Anthology of six short films, including: Full run time, 90 minutes For individual descriptions, and run times, see title links above.