About this release
"String band leader Howard Armstrong (Louie Bluie) is the joyful, emotive, strutting subject of this tribute by fellow musician and cellist Terry Zwigoff. Filmed at the 1985 Friscofest, Louie's unique Afro-American string band shares the stage with Cab Calloway and with Les Blank and Alan Governar in an entertaining number about the ups and downs of nicotine in Cigarette Blues. Enjoyable for all audiences, Louie Bluie is 60 minutes of happy musical catharsis."
Where to buy
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner Network member, FilmShelves earns from qualifying purchases. These links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Disc 1
DVD
Louie Bluie (1985)
60 min
MusicDocumentary
Crumb director Terry Zwigoff’s first film is a true treat: a documentary about the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, Louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject, and Zwigoff honors him with an unsentimental but endlessly affectionate tribute. Full of infectious music and comedy, Louie Bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of pop-cultural marginalia that Zwigoff would continue to excavate in the coming years.
Credits
Director
Terry Zwigoff
Cast
Howard Armstrongas Himself
Ted Boganas Himself
Jay Lynchas Himself
Yank Rachellas Himself
Ikey Robinsonas Himself
Editor
Victoria Lewis
Producer
Terry Zwigoff
Frank Simeone
Images
Release Details
- Packaging
- Keep Case
Catalogue Info
- Added by
- Matthew Simpson
- Date added
- June 14, 2026