Louis Prima - The Wildest

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Summary: Comments about this DVD
Review: Although I truly enjoy Louie Prima's music, this DVD does not due him justice. The sound and picture quality is poor.
The performances are old and all in BLACK & WHITE!! The only parts in color are the commentary and the cemetary photo where he is buried. Better to just buy a CD and listen to him perform. This DVD is way overpriced for its poor quality.
I do not recommend unless you just want anything and everything there is available on Louie Prima, no matter what the quality is like. I was very disappointed.

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Summary: Good for Prima fans but what about Keely?
Review: Finally there is a resource for all of us Prima fans for a chance to really get an insight into this man. Great clips of prima and some interesting insight from his associates. Unfortunately there is too much emphasis on his career and life post Keely Smith. Clearly the diamond of his career was his association with Keely Smith whose recordings together are pure show business legend. Post Keely duets with fifth and final wife are poor attempts to recreate the magic with Keely and sadly lacked substance. Fortunately there is a couple of magic moments with Louis and Keely and for those of us who starve for this kind of magic that they were this is a good start. Hopefully Keely Smith or her and Louis's daughters (the real royal musical lineage of the Prima mantle) will tell us more soon. For now this is a good primer.

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Summary: A fitting tribute to one wild cat
Review: 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.

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Summary: We're Lovin' Louis
Review: I've been a Prima fan for many years. In fact, my daughter, who was born a few days after I watched Louis Prima perform with his then new wife, is named Gia (for Gia Maione, of course). My Gia has identical 4 year old twin boys who absolutely love Louis Prima, watch the DVD each and every day, sing all the songs and do wonderful imitations of Louis and Sam Butera. Ryan is always Louis and Nicky is always Sam. Wish all Prima fans could see the twins perform. Yes, we're all lovin' Louis.

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Summary: Primo Prima
Review: 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.

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Summary: Thoroughly entertaining, hilarious documentary
Review: 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.

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Summary: Great Documentary on Louis Prima with Terrific Performances.
Review: This DVD is great. Louis Prima was a little before my time in real life. I became a fan long after his death. This has some amazing vintage footage as well as some current footage of this legend of swing.
Its a great lesson on importance of showmanship.
It is thoroughly enjoyable.

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Summary: Good insight into the man and his music.
Review: 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.