Leadbelly movie (1976)
Does anyone know where I can buy a copy of this movie?
shareno but I am searching also this is a really good movie as Im sure you know. let me know if you are able to locate a source please.
[email protected] thanks
I've been down this road in the past.
This wonderful movie was never released on VHS/BETA/DVD/ANYTHING after its initial release, for mind-boggling reasons I can't imagine. I found a few businesses in L.A. dealing in out-of-print movies that owned original film copies, transferrable to VHS or DVD for around $40-$50...but unfortunately that was a year or two ago, before my computer succombed to innumerable viruses, so the links are lost. But I know for a fact, if you can track them down, that copies CAN be had for a price.
if anyone is able to track down one of these accomodating companies, PLEASE mail me.
I have a copy that I taped off of Showtime back in the late '90's. I have transferred it to dvd.
As you say...it is a wonderful movie. I don't know why it hasn't been released in any form.
Reading your message that you have copied this film on DVD, I would like to have a copy. Can you do one for me? Please reply to: [email protected]
Thanks!
my dad had just asked me about this movie the other day, he wanted to know where it could be found. i don't know what state y'all are from but in the GA you can rent movies at the library. i'm just trying to rent, but y'all trying to buy. any luck on where the movie is for sale?
shareAs I said above, the movie was never released to the public on DVD/VHS or anything else, so no library is going to help you. Your only chance of obtaining a copy is to track down one of the Los Angeles companies I talked about that deal in original copies of out-of-print films. They can make a transfer copy for around $50 (last I checked), and though they seem to generally deal with TV studios and the like rather than private citizens, the reps I e-mailed with were more than willing to cut a deal for an avid fan. My .02.
That's a shame that this was never released on VHS; maybe a DVD will come around at some point! Thanks for the info poetoflamancha!
shareYou know, the REAL shame is, the Art Form (Blues,Folk Music), is SO under-documented in the FIRST place. I have been trying to locate ANYONE who has seen a copy or even that matter, a re-televised personal account of the supposed (Who's seen it,not me) 5-part, CRITICALLY acclaimed Documentary from the BBC, televised in 1976: "The Devil's Music"-A History of the Blues {based on/in conjuction to the book of the same name (Da Capo Press, by Giles Oakley)}. Documentation is in definition, to Document (To acknowledge something of importance).! For what would seem..... educational,socialogical,historical,artistical,etc,etc, purposes. We could be sure of (That is, the original authors/producers thought of this, when planning this wonderful project). BUT, I have been searching for 10 years, can't find ONE, rent/buy or anything. Then, so, the next best thing, cinematic portrayal. I see a great movie, "Leadbelly"! Ecstatic! Then I try to find even that, STILL not commercialy viable, (Not Enough $$$$ in it). Same Old song. Looking forward when someone undertakes a philanthropic project (Lord knows, it won't be something the big business's will ever undertake), "The Library of Congress", if you will,.....For ALL FOLK Music, known to exist IN THE WORLD (I do know that Europe Documented much on American Music, as well as Canada). All Documentaries, and Motion Pictures, and making it ACCESSIBLE TO ALL!
On Ebay someone is selling bootleg copies of Leadbelly on DVD for $20. The quality is fairly good.
shareWhy even keep records of the movie if they don't want to put it on tape? It seems really stupid- This is a document/though a bit fictional I hear...of one of the most influencial folk singers. Like the Lomax's, someone should make those people copies of it!! schecchkk!
shareWith 'Ray's release in 2004, 'Walk the Line' in 2005, and the upcoming Bob Dylan movie - you would think this would be a golden opportunity to get this classic out on DVD! But no, the studios just want to keep re-releasing stuff. Geez.
shareThe death of Gordon Parks reminded me of how stunned I was by the cinemaphotography. The richness of the color...
Anyhow I commiserate with y'all. Maybe Showtime still has their copy and could be induced to air it again.
Bob 55
So, did it come out in theaters, or just TV?
shareIt was released to Theaters albeit not widely. I lived in a largely african american neighborhood in the 70's. It was shown in the local moviehouse three doors down from where I lived.
Great nickname, by the way. A fan of the singer, or just the song?
Call me Rob.
Thanks Rob. Leadbelly is my favorite musician and also, my real name is Irene. So, there you go- Goodnignt_Irene!
shareI have this great movie from an Encore channel airing. I also have the Lomax film of the real Leadbelly and even the outtakes from the Lomax film.
shareI've always wanted to see Leadbelly. It played in L.A. in 1976, but didn't get a wide release -- it didn't get released in my home town. I've always been a big fan of Roger Moseley.
shareI bought one of these DVDs for $11.00 and will viewing it tonite. I'll let you know how it comes out. I was made by Blax video. I saw and remember the VHS version of Leadbelly, so I hope to be able to review the new DVD fair and square, good or bad, etc.
Glenn
We watched the new Gotham City Entertainment/Blaxploitation version DVD of Leadbelly and it came out pretty darned good, no skips or flutters. Good color and audio. Same good movie with nothing cut. I've been looking for this movie for many years and this new DVD is not all that bad. Glenn at [email protected]
shareI saw that "Devil's Music" series, though the British slant was evident. Maybe PBS was selling copies here. There are quite a few good blues documentaries, including the Marty Scorsese series. Go to Amazon.com and look up Robert Johnson, for example, or HoneyBoy Edwards. For a modern blues great, Luther Allison, look for the live-concert video that was issued. Finally, Stefan Grossman has issued many blues and Black folk music videos on his own label, Vastapol (possibly Muddy Waters). My photo of Libba Cotton is in the printed notebook that accompanies the video on that label. The Smithsonian Folkways label issues music on CD with booklets. Go to their Website! Check out their Rev. Gary Davis CD and the upcoming 3-CD of stars of the Friends of Old Time Music which will have 3 Black artists. I'll try to find out if they are going to do any DVDs. Years ago, when cable capacity reached 100 channels, I proposed a Blues Channel and was laughed off!! Maybe we can revive the idea, and have blues movies and documentaries 24/7. Last BUT NOT LEAST, can we hear some responses to the excellent performance of ART EVANS as BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON? Check out his listing here on IMDb: Art has played 85 parts but his first big part was in the LEADBELLY movie.
shareThey used to show it all the time in the late 90s, I don't why it's not on DVD.
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