| | |  | Big Dance Bands | Home » » » Louis Prima - The Wildest | | | | | | | 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! Additional interviews; Full-length performances of "Basin Street Blues," "Oh, Babe!" and "Waitin' on the Robert E. Lee;" Audio-only bonus songs: "Sing, Sing, Sing," "Robin Hood" and "Please No Squeeza Da Banana" | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Louis Prima, Joe Segreto, Leon Prima, Gia Maione, Dave Winstein | | Director:
| Don McGlynn | | Format:
| Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Image Entertainment | | Run Time:
| 90 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| May 08, 2001 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 17 reviews |
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| All | |
| $9.97 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $12.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $14.97 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $20.00 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $31.99 | New | | | $34.95 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | | | $42.21 | Used
- Mint | | | $42.21 | New | | | $49.94 | New | | | $49.95 | New | | | $119.99 | New | |
| New | |
| $31.99 | New | | | $34.95 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | | | $42.21 | New | | | $49.94 | New | | | $49.95 | New | | | $119.99 | New | |
| Used | |
| $9.97 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $12.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $14.97 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $20.00 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $42.21 | Used
- Mint | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 17 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Good insight into the man and his music.Sep 10, 2001
By David Kenner
This is a nice bio of one of the legends of Las Vegas and beyond. Louis' life is explored from his family's immigration on through to his death in the late 70s. There are many insightful moments represented here thanks to interviews with music historian Will Friedwald, Prima's bandmates Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Gia Maione and others as well as members of Prima's family. Overall it's a nice production but I wish there could have been more concert footage where instead a song like "Just a Gigolo" is played over stock footage of the Vegas strip and people gambling in casinos. What concert footage there is though, is priceless with Louis, Keely and Sam hamming it up for "Just a Gigolo" and "That Old Black Magic" as well as a duet with Gia Maione on "I Want You" that is one of this video's highlights. The main problem with the video is that it leaves you wanting more. Much more.
26 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 A fitting tribute to one wild catSep 30, 2002
By D. B. Spalding
Great review of this jazz master's career, from New Orleans, to New York (where he penned the immortal "Sing, Sing, Sing") and on to his later triumph as a Vegas showman. His gift, and his gab, are clearly on display here through archive footage and kinetoscopes of early TV appearances with Keely Smith. Loaded with interviews, photos, recordings and rare films. If you think you knew about Louis Prima, this documentary will open your eyes. Among some of the funniest moments are some footage of Louis recording the Disney tune "I wanna be just like you" for THE JUNGLE BOOK. A great film about one of the 20th Century's great jazz artists.
17 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Thoroughly entertaining, hilarious documentaryMay 14, 2001
This documentary is a real treat. Louis Prima was such a tremendous showman, with so much energy. The places he lived - New Orleans, Las Vegas - are also fun to watch. But it is the performances, particularly with his wife Keely Smith, that are a blast to watch. I'd recommend this to any music fan, but particular those who like the Rat Pack, rhythm and blues or New Orleans music. But Louis is so fun, I think just about anybody would have a great time watching it.
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Primo PrimaAug 13, 2001
By D. Boone
My family has enjoyed Louis Prima for a couple of years. But until we saw this video, we didn't know what kind of over-the-top performer he was. He is the Wildest. The clips featuring the high energy wailings of Sam Butera are the best.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
LOUIS PRIMA: THE WILDEST and THE BEST!!!!Sep 20, 2006
By Jabbo edwards
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!!!
See all 17 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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