Louis Prima - The Wildest (2001)

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! May 5, 2008

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! February 12, 2008

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. November 21, 2007

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!!! September 20, 2006

El Primo

It's all in the live footage. Interspersed among somewhat predictable interviews ( bar the talks with Sam Butera ) it's dynamite. For the ones of us who never got to experience King Louis in the flesh, this gives a hint of what it must've been like. August 18, 2006

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