Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Music from the Big House

  • 20102010
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
102
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
285,086
53,181
Music from the Big House (2010)
From acclaimed director Bruce McDonald comes a rare, musical documentary starring award-winning recording Blues artist Rita Chiarelli and the inmates of Angola Prison. Not since Johnny Cash took stage at Folsom Prison has the love of music promised humanity and redemption to men serving life sentences for crimes as heinous a murder, rape and armed robbery.

With a deeply rooted legacy of great Blues music, Angola’s bloody history can not dissuade Rita’s personal pilgrimage to recover the talent and desperate voices of the musicians within. Commanding an audience of some 800 inmates with family and country folk cobbled in, Rita raises the roof in a collaborative jailhouse performance with men who have little else to live for. It is history written anew – thanks to Warden Burl Cain’s progressive, if not controversial, rehabilitation programs.

The prisonÂ’s music program has offered hope to inmates like Ray Jones, a man who rather be remembered for his days singing disco in the 70Â’s. But heÂ’ll never leave with his murder rap. HeÂ’s since found God, and devotes himself to the legal studies that might help other inmates with their cases. Above all heÂ’s found his voice, but as only one out of the 5000 inmate voices, Ray takes the stage again to have his full potential felt and heard.

Steeped with hope and imploring for forgiveness, these remarkable voices guide on the journey of men and their bands in quest for redemption. What was once just about the Blues now becomes a life changing experience for Rita. Be swept away by one of BluesÂ’ most soulful pilgrim daughters, and discover the promise and escape of music.

One woman, four bands, two hours of the Blues. ItÂ’s time to make a new soundtrack.
Play trailer2:52
1 Video
1 Photo
DocumentaryMusicMusical
Rita Chiarelli's exploration of Louisiana's Angola Prison, its inmates and the blues music tradition they perform with her.Rita Chiarelli's exploration of Louisiana's Angola Prison, its inmates and the blues music tradition they perform with her.Rita Chiarelli's exploration of Louisiana's Angola Prison, its inmates and the blues music tradition they perform with her.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
102
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
285,086
53,181
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Bruce McDonald
    • Writers
      • Tony Burgess
      • Erin Faith Young
    • Star
      • Rita Chiarelli
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Bruce McDonald
    • Writers
      • Tony Burgess
      • Erin Faith Young
    • Star
      • Rita Chiarelli
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Music From the Big House
    Trailer 2:52
    Music From the Big House

    Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rita Chiarelli
    • Director
      • Bruce McDonald
    • Writers
      • Tony Burgess
      • Erin Faith Young
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Pontypool
    6.5
    Pontypool
    Hellmouth
    5.2
    Hellmouth
    Possam
    8.5
    Possam
    The Hexecutioners
    4.1
    The Hexecutioners
    Saturn's Rings
    7.3
    Saturn's Rings
    Hard Core Logo
    7.3
    Hard Core Logo
    Septic Man
    4.1
    Septic Man

    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews12

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Prison, Blues and Spirituality
    This is the first time I have heard this song. I give 9 marks because I like it. This music has succeeded in highlighting the emotions of a human being. This music has taken my mind to another world. This song shows how to behave in a disaster.
    helpful•0
    0
    • johnthomas789
    • Sep 8, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 2012 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, Louisiana, USA
    • Production company
      • Optix Digital Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Music from the Big House (2010)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Music from the Big House (2010) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Double Take: Celebrity Twins
    See the full list
    Back to top

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.