Product Details

• Actors: Louis Armstrong
• Directors: Gary Giddins
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sony
• DVD Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004U2EH
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,854 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding classroom intructional tool, February 24, 2000

By 

Scott R. Harding (St. Johns, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masters of American Music Series: Satchmo [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's my first semester teaching a general-student Jazz History course, and I wanted something beyond the textbook to get the students involved. I bought this video as a "best-of-all-options" choice, and was bowled over by it's thoroughness and attention to detail. Everything we'd discussed about Armstrong during class was there on the tape, reinforcing my lectures and giving the kids a nice opportunity to both hear AND see the legendary Louis. For pure entertainment alone it was worthwhile, but for instructional purposes I'd consider it a necessity for any future jazz classes I'd teach. I paid $16 bucks for it, but having seen it I think I'd've paid fifty! (Shh! Don't tell Amazon!)

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pops at his best, November 7, 2001

By 

R. J. Marsella (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Louis Armstrong - Satchmo (DVD)

This biography is very well produced and is worth the money just for the performance scenes. I find myself watching certain segments over and over. Watching Louis and Jack Teagagarden performing Rockin' Chair or the older clips of a young Louis performing in Denmark are just pure joy. A clip from the movie New Orleans with Louis and Billie Holiday is a show-stopper. I absolutely love this DVD and highly recommend it to anyone who is a Louis Armstrong fan.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SATCHMO - Louis Armstrong; Masters of American Music, November 26, 2000

By 

David F Soderlund (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louis Armstrong - Satchmo (DVD)

Satchmo is a the second DVD in a series of 9 documentaries dealing with classic jazz artists that had a strong influence on the evolution of jazz. This DVD traces Armstrong's life from his upbringing in New Orleans through his travels on the road as a singer, songwriter, and actor, as well as discussing his impact on the civil rights movement. The documentary very capably showed the breadth of Armstrong's talents with footage of Armstrong's appearances in both early and later movies, footage of concert performances spanning 4 decades and even his cameo appearance in a Betty Boop cartoon!!

I found it especially interesting how Armstrong influenced other artists; commentary was given by jazz critics, contemporary peers such as Dexter Gordon and Tony Bennett, and artists he influenced such as Wynton Marsallis. This articulate documentary brought Louis to life, both as an artist as well as a person. I can't wait to get the documentaries on Monk and 'Trane.