Cure for the New Orleans Blues

List creator: ZenBones Created on: September 8, 2005 - 12:24 AM PDT Description: The city we all know and love will live on, thanks to the world of celluloid. Rediscover the Big Easy by renting any of these titles.

show images/hide images

	movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
	The Big Easy (1987)
Some say that New Orleans provides the backdrop for this mystery thriller, but I say that the mystery thriller provides the backdrop for the chance to see The Big Easy in all its glory. Essential for New Orleans enthusiasts!
	Angel Heart (1987)
Another mystery thriller shot in New Orleans that involves voodoo, Robert De Niro with reeeeally long fingernails, and Mickey Rourke's bare tushy.
	Pretty Baby (1978)
Jailbait Brooke Shields provides the backdrop for this early 20th century look at the red light district of New Orleans, and the birth of ragtime.
	Storyville: The Naked Dance (1997)			Not Rated
See the real red light district of New Orleans of a century past, complete with vintage images!
	King Creole (1958)
No, this isn't the Clifton Chenier Story, although with this title it should be. But Elvis in New Orleans looks like it might worth a peek anyway.
	Panic in the Streets (1950)			Not Rated
The panic fifty years ago came in the form of the Bubonic Plague. Elia Kazan's classic film noir is mostly shot during the day, but New Orleans comes off in all its grimy glory anyway, especially in the last scenes on the docks. Wonderful movie!
	JFK (Special Edtion) (1991)
Most of this film takes place in New Orleans, where DA Jim Garrison investigated the strange coincidences involving Lee Harvey Oswald and the 'in crowd' of the FBI.
	J'Ai Ete Au Bal (1989)			Not Rated
I haven't seen this yet so I don't know how much of it takes place in New Orleans, but all of Louisiana's roots in zydeco and blues comes from the port of that great town. "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" (Let the Good Times Roll!)
	Schultze Gets the Blues (2003)
Schultze seemingly sees very little of New Orleans, but this film shows that you can even be thousands of miles away in Germany and still find that special New Orleans spirit when you listen to zydeco and eat jambalaya. Great movie!
	Ruby Bridges (1998)
I haven't seen this, but it shows New Orleans' first growing pains in integration.
	Easy Rider (Criterion) (1969)
As you can see in the Mardi Gras scenes in this film, things were still sort of segregated then, but then again, the crew were so high when they were filming this, it's hard to figure out what they're shooting! There's some interesting footage though.
	Mardi Gras Raw: The Movie (2002)			Not Rated
Umm... haven't seen. If there are any hot guys in this let me know!
	Candyman 2: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)
If I was freaky-looking, I'd hang out at the Mardi Gras too (actually, I am freaky-looking, as you can see from my picture -IT'S...)
	Dracula 2000 (2000)
And if I was a vampire and I wanted to come to America - this is where I'd go (I wonder if one can taste the file' in people's blood)!
	Interview with the Vampire (1994)
A missed opportunity for some prime voodoo-vampire possibilities, but there's some nice N.O. 'flavor' here nonetheless.
	Walk on the Wild Side (1962)			Not Rated
Not much use of N.O. locations, but the sassiness of the female cast (including Barbara Stanwyck as a dyke!) reminds us that we're definitely not in Kansas anymore.
	Jezebel (1938)			Not Rated
Speaking of sass... Bette Davis speaks it and struts it around in a flaming red dress in front of New Orleans society at the Olympus Ball. Oh, the scandal!
	Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)			Not Rated
Speaking of scandal, when this film was released there was a full page ad by the Catholic Legion of Decency, that said "If you like rape, homosexuality, adultery, indecency... then go see this movie". Needless to say, it was a box office smash.
	A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Come to think of it, I don't think the Catholic Legion of Decency cared for this much either. We don't get to see much of N.O., but we can certainly feel it's HEAT (in more ways than one)!
	Belle of the Nineties (1934)
Originally called, "The Belle of New Orleans", starring the great Mae West. I hope this comes back in print!
	Cincinnati Kid (1965)			Not Rated
There aren't many exterior shots in this, but it still has some local flavor.
	New Orleans (1947)			Not Rated
Sadly unknown musical featuring Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.
	J.D.'s Revenge (1976)
The music for this isn't very authentic (a young man by the name of PRINCE composed the score), but there's some good N.O. backdrop.
	Undercover Blues (1993)
Yuppies in New Orleans? What's the world coming to?! The film is fairly watchable, really. Dennis Quaid seems to fit in well in the Big Easy.