Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32090 in DVD
• Published on: 1997
• Format: Widescreen
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Customer Reviews

Alvie Singer Picks Up a Clarinet
If you're a fan of both New Orleans jazz and/or the movies of Woody Allen, Wild Man Blues is a must buy. This documentary is interesting in that it gives us a glimpse into Woody in an unfamiliar setting. Here, Woody abandoned his beloved Manhattan for Europe. Also, his focus here is on playing traditional jazz (as opposed to the psychoanalysis, self-doubt, and relationships with women found in most of his movies).

The more things change, however, the more they stay the same. As we watch Woody trot across Europe with his band, we see the line between Woody Allen the clarinetist and the protagonists in his movies blur before our very eyes. All of the doubts, fears, guilt, wit, and desire of his characters display themselves here in many subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Woody the musician is essentially the same character as Alvie Singer (Annie Hall), Isaac Davis (Manhattan), and Mickey Sachs (Hannah and her Sisters), and the other memorable characters from Woody's classic films.

From a musical standpoint, the film is interesting in unevenness. Woody's usually-no-better-than-average clarinet playing is juxtaposed with outstanding playing by some of NYC's best jazz musicians. (Cynthia Sayer, Eddy Davis, John Gill, etc.) This juxtaposition leads to performances by the band that go from weak (Paris) to spotty (Spain) to brilliant (London). The uneven nature of the musical performances leads Woody to make many hilarious comments that would make his best protagonists proud.

I would recommend this movie to any of the countless fans of Woody's movies. Watching Wild Man Blues will amplify, augment, and deepen one's understanding and appreciation of those classic Allen protagonists. Once you watch it, you'll probably want to pop in your Annie Hall DVD immediately. Even if (like me) you've seen it many times before, you'll have a whole new perspective on that great movie after you've seen Wild Man Blues.

My introduction to Woody Allen.
I'm not a Woody Allen guy. I've only seen one of his movies, and although I enjoyed it, I wasn't hooked. Then came Wild Man Blues, a documentary about Woody's private side on a blues tour throughout Europe. Allen, who is a superb clarinet player, charms us with his fast-firing wit and keeps us rocking as he and his New Orleans Jazz band tickle our musical funny bones in one European country after another.

A very funny film that shows just how Allen is truly a comedic genius, be it in his films or in reality.

A great insight into Woody's life
I LOVE this documentary of Woody Allen's tour as a Clarinetist with his small band through Europe. To see him as a musician is a delight (especially if you have a heart for Dixieland tunes) but what makes it precious are all the glimpses "behind" the scenes and just to be able to accompany him visually on his journey. You'll get a good idea of the human being called Woody Allen who just can't stop cracking jokes even when it's more than obvious than he's not enjoying all of the aspects of his journey himself - and the scene with his parents in the end is the highlight of all...more won't be said! Go and watch this if you are a Woody Allen fan like me! You certainly won't be disappointed!