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Louie Bluie

  • 19851985
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
852
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
91,796
3,054
Louie Bluie (1985)
DocumentaryMusic
About the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America.About the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America.About the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
852
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
91,796
3,054
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Terry Zwigoff
    • Stars
      • Howard Armstrong
      • Ted Bogan
      • Yank Rachell
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Terry Zwigoff
    • Stars
      • Howard Armstrong
      • Ted Bogan
      • Yank Rachell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos

    Louie Bluie (1985)
    Louie Bluie (1985)
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    Top cast

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    Howard Armstrong
    • Self
    Ted Bogan
    • Self
    Yank Rachell
    • Self
    Ikey Robinson
    • Self
    • (as Banjo Ikey Robinson)
    Jay Lynch
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Terry Zwigoff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #532.
    • Quotes

      Howard Armstrong: He was so greedy after women, he was like a one eyed cat watchin' two rat holes.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Legend/At Close Range/Wise Guys/Louie Bluie (1986)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The Blues never felt so good...
    Simply put, "Louie Bluie" is one of the best usages of film ever.

    This movie is introduced by director Terry Zwigoff ("Crumb") as a search for 1930s bluesman Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong and the style of music known as "string-blues. However, it rapidly evolves into more than the average documentary on music.

    Much of the credit has to go to Armstrong. As a 75-year-old mandolin and violin virtuoso, painter, poet, and all-around hellraiser, Armstrong bursts onto the screen as a celebration of life itself. The stories told by him and his musican friends would bury any manufactured Hollywood script.

    Credit also goes to Zwigoff who allows himself to be second to his main character and the stories he tells. His filming is effortless so the view feels incredibly close to the characters and the subject at hand. Furthermore, the director is able to involve issues such as racism and discriminary practices of the past without being overbearing or losing the upbeat nature of the film.

    Zwigoff is well-rewarded for his efforts. Not only do we learn about the world of string-blues, but we also discover that the African-American based string-blues (which we get ample helpings) was highly influencial on country music. Even more fascinating is Armstrong's discussion with fellow musician Ted "Dark Gable" Bogan on how black musicians would avoid 1930s racism by learning the languages of immigrant groups.

    I cannot say enough of this film other than that I only wish that Hollywood could find more characters as interesting and witty Howard Armstrong and more caring directors like Terry Zwigoff. If only more films, documentary or otherwise, could be like "Louie Bluie"...
    helpful•32
    1
    • J. Canker Huxley
    • Dec 28, 1998

    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 10, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Луи Блуи
    • Filming locations
      • Tennessee, USA
    • Production company
      • Superior
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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