Editorial Product Review:Description:Before Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett or Engelbert Humperdinck ever played the stages of Vegas, there was Louis Prima. One of America's most hypnotic and original performers, Prima's career spanned several decades and turned out hits like 'That Old Black Magic,' 'Sing, Sing, Sing,' 'Just a Gigolo,' 'I Ain't Got Nobody' and 'Jump, Jive an' Wail.' In Disney's animated classic 'The Jungle Book,' Prima created the 'hep' voice of King Louie the orangutan. This film profiles the magnetic Louis Prima in a nostalgic historical journey through the music scenes of a racy New Orleans, the swinging jazz culture of uptown New York and Las Vegas's 'formative' years. As a solo act or with his wife, acclaimed singer Keely Smith, Louis Prima was and will forever be the 'wildest' man in show business!
Amazon.com:He may have been 'just a gigolo,' but it's easy to understand why Louis Prima continues to find audiences both young and old. The trumpeter and bandleader was at the forefront of the rock & roll movement, he was the epitome of the cool, singing and swinging Italian crooner ('Oh Marie'), and he achieved immortality as King Louie in Disney's
Jungle Book. But the entertainer also went through five wives, struggled to keep up with new musical trends, and, ultimately, will be remembered as one of the world's great lounge acts.
Louis Prima: The Wildest chronicles his rise to fame from his early years in the French Quarter of New Orleans to his glory days in Sin City. Interviews with jazz critics, former wife Keely Smith, and numerous bandmates abound in this well-made documentary. But the real highlight for Prima fans will be the live music footage, showcasing Smith and Prima singing in their prime, his crackerjack band that knew how to swing, twist, and (yes) rock when it mattered, and Prima's incredible stage presence. The fascinating footage is abundant here- -from 'Chinatown' to 'Sing, Sing, Sing' to an awe-inspiring performance of 'I'm in the Mood for Love.' No one can ever sum up what makes Prima so magical, but the music speaks for itself. Added DVD features include some uncut concert performances and a few audio-only bonus tracks.
--Jason Verlinde
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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The Wildest at his Best!
If you enjoy the music of Louis Prima, buy this DVD - no ifs, ands, or buts. Rare photos, movie clips, and television footage document Prima's career from his early years in New Orleans up through his final performances in the 1970s. Interviews with Prima's brother, Leon, two of his five wives, Keely Smith and Gia Maione, saxophonist Sam Butera, drummer Jimmy Vincent, and others make this highly informative and enjoyable. Of course, it is the Big Man himself who steals the show. I guarantee that only minutes into this tribute to a great performer you'll be tapping your toes to his unique swinging style and understand why he was truly "The Wildest." Enjoy!
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The Perfect Prima Primer!
This DVD release of a film that won the audience award for best documentary at the Hamptons Int.film Festival in /99 is a welcome and most fitting tribute to one the best entertainers in the music world.
Watching Prima and his band was/is like watching a cross between a Mexican jumping bean and a volcano.They all jump around the stage until the time is right then they erupt with that beautiful musical explosion.The minute Prima sang he had you hook,line and sinker.I've seen very few entertainers with the energy Prima could put out on stage or on record and it is for certain we lost a giant talent with his passing.
The documentary goes from his birth in New Orleans right through to the very end of his life.The major failing however is the frustrating lack of a timeline throughout.Dates are given few and far between and sometimes it is hard to know exactly the when of what you are watching.
However there are plenty of movie and video clips shown throughout and the ones in the 50s during his high period are especially wonderful and appealing.In fact it leaves you wanting to see ALOT more of him.
There are plenty of interviews with close associates,members of his band and two of his five wives Keely Smith and his last Gia Maione.
Included on this DVD are video performances of "Basin Street Blues","Oh,Babe" and "Waiting for the Robert E Lee".Also there are audio only tracks of some very rare Prima sung songs,"Sing,Sing,Sing"(one of his greatest compositions),"Robin Hood" and "Please No Squeeza Da Banana".
I was glad to see not only Keely Smith in attendance(what Prima documentary could be complete without her?) but also wonderful Sam Butera.I recall Primas'late 40s and early to mid 50s period on Mercury.He had some good and catchy songs("Enjoy Yourself" is a stand out) that fore told of things to come.Keely Smith was there but something was missing until Sam Butera joined the band in the mid 50s.Suddenly everything seemed to fall into place for him.Sam was really the spark plug that ran the Prima engine.And when you see Prima and Sam performing and listen to them on records(now CD)it is not hard to understand why.
I heartily recommend this DVD to all lovers of good music and espeically to all you Louis Prima fans out there.This is one essential to add to your collection.And to all you only familiar with his records/CDs and/or to those not familar with him at all I recommend this DVD as the perfect Prima primer.Get yours today and swing out!
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Stupendous!
Boy, you are lucky guys out there; this is still not available in the UK region standard (PAL), so I actually had to go out and buy a multi-standard DVD player so I could watch this DVD from amazon.com USA. It was worth it! Just being able to see the great man live or on tv shows is a must, and kids should know what a big influence Louis was to everyone, from Sinatra on thru.
Customer Rating: -
LOUIS PRIMA: THE WILDEST and THE BEST!!!!
The filmakers chose to concentrate on the music here. And there is a great wealth of rare and fabulous LOUIS PRIMA performance clips in this film highlighted by extended clips from PRIMA's ground breaking 1959 ED SULLIVAN SHOW appearances..most having not been seen since the day they were first broadcasted I suspect. I am told that Louis didn't have too much to say except when his horn was in his mouth..I think this doc clearly brings that home. Good informative interviews with family memebers, managers and fellow bandmates, great info on the ITALIAN AMERICAN communities of New Orleans as well...thank you for doing this one Don McGlynn & Joe Lauro!!!