Bringemovies
← Browse Movies
Always for Pleasure
TITLE DETAILS

Always for Pleasure

1978-05-02 · 58 min · ★ 7.4

Documentary · Music

A musical portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo in 1977: second-line parades, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest. Features live music from Professor Longhair, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among Blank's special masterworks. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 1999.

Open detail page

Trailers are previews, not full movies.

No authorized playback source configured. Use the legal watch options below.

Production details

Directors
Les Blank
Production companies
Flower Films
Countries
United States of America
Status
Released

Top Cast

Kid Thomas ValentineSelf - Band Leader, Trumpet Player
Allen ToussaintAllen ToussaintSelf - Composer, Arranger, Pianist
Blue Lu BarkerSelf - Jazz Singer
Irma ThomasIrma ThomasSelf - R&B Singer
Professor LonghairSelf
Aaron NevilleAaron NevilleSelf - The Neville Brothers
Art NevilleSelf - The Neville Brothers
Charles NevilleCharles NevilleSelf - The Neville Brothers
Cyril NevilleCyril NevilleSelf - The Neville Brothers

Title information and images are supplied by TMDb. Explore our discovery guide for advice on comparing metadata and legal viewing options.

Where to watch

Availability provided by JustWatch via TMDb. Offers can change. Provider links are listed on TMDb; full playback requires a separately authorized source.

Streaming

Criterion Channel

View authorized watch options on TMDb

Recommendations

I Called Him Morgan
★ 7.0
I Called Him Morgan2016Documentary · Music

Part jazz history, part true-crime tale, Kasper Collin’s new documentary employs extensive archival footage and new interviews to tell the tragic story of the magnificently talented trumpeter Lee Morgan and his common-law wife Helen, who murdered him in a New York bar in 1972.

Elvis on Tour
★ 7.5
Elvis on Tour1972Documentary · Music

This documentary captures Elvis Presley on his 1972 American tour and includes rehearsals, interviews, archival television appearances and backstage moments. With Elvis at his most flamboyant, the film features well-known hits and cover songs showcasing his country, gospel and rhythm-and-blues influences.

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
★ 7.6
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)2021Documentary · Music

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America's history lost — until now.

Echo in the Canyon
★ 6.8
Echo in the Canyon2019Documentary · Music

A look at the roots of the historic music scene in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon featuring the music of iconic music groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas.

This Is It
★ 7.4
This Is It2009Documentary · Music

A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy
★ 8.8
Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy2025Documentary · Music

Never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews celebrate the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band.

Amazing Grace
★ 7.1
Amazing Grace2018Documentary

A behind-the-scenes documentary about the recording of Aretha Franklin's best-selling album finally sees the light of day more than four decades after the original footage was shot.

God Bless Ozzy Osbourne
★ 7.9
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne2011Documentary · Music

Featuring never before seen footage uncovered from the archives and interviews with Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and others, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne is the first documentary to take viewers inside the complex mind of rock's great icon.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is
★ 8.1
Elvis: That's the Way It Is1970Documentary · Music

On July 31, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Elvis Presley staged a triumphant return to the concert stage from which he had been absent for almost a decade. His series of concerts broke all box office records and completely reenergized the career of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
★ 8.4
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me2022Documentary · Music

After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
★ 6.9
The Decline of Western Civilization Part III1998Documentary · Music

A musical study of Los Angeles in the late 90s, where homeless teens roam the streets and profess to live a punk lifestyle of music, drugs, and flouting authority.

Katy Perry: Part of Me
★ 7.1
Katy Perry: Part of Me2012Documentary · Music

Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, Katy Perry: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.

Reincarnated
★ 6.1
Reincarnated2012Documentary · Music

Evolution as an artist is often times what separates legends from the more mundane. After being heavily influenced by his experience in Jamaica – and his subsequent name change from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion – the LBC showman prepares his latest reggae-infused album Reincarnated. As part of the process, VICE followed Snoop to the island nation as he recorded various songs with backing from Diplo, Ariel Reichtshaid and Dre Skull of Major Lazer. Having grown tired of what rap provided him, the documentary reveals the rebirth and inspiration for his latest project.

Kurt Cobain: About a Son
★ 6.9
Kurt Cobain: About a Son2007Documentary · Music

An intimate and moving meditation on the late musician and artist Kurt Cobain, based on more than 25 hours of previously unheard audiotaped interviews conducted with Cobain by noted music journalist Michael Azerrad for his book "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana." In the film, Kurt Cobain recounts his own life - from his childhood and adolescence to his days of musical discovery and later dealings with explosive fame - and offers often piercing insights into his life, music, and times. The conversations heard in the film have never before been made public, and they reveal a highly personal portrait of an artist much discussed but not particularly well understood.

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
★ 7.0
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese2019Documentary · Music

Part documentary, part concert film, part fever dream, this film captures the troubled spirit of America in 1975 and the joyous music that Dylan performed during the fall of that year.

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
★ 8.4
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)2026Documentary · Music

Captured during Billie Eilish's sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.

Beastie Boys Story
★ 7.5
Beastie Boys Story2020Documentary · Music

Here's a little story they're about to tell... Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of their band and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend, collaborator, and their former grandfather, Spike Jonze.

David Byrne's American Utopia
★ 7.5
David Byrne's American Utopia2020Documentary · Music

A filmed version of David Byrne's Broadway show, a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.

Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids
★ 7.4
Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids2016Documentary · Music

In January 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the final nights of the "20/20 Experience World Tour", director Jonathan Demme captures what makes the show soar: gifted musicians, deft dancers and a magnetic star.

One More Time with Feeling
★ 7.8
One More Time with Feeling2016Documentary · Music

Andrew Dominik's One More Time With Feeling is a remarkable black and white documentary which chronicles the creation of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' album Skeleton Tree. Originally a performance based concept, the film evolved into something much more significant as Dominik delved into the tragic backdrop of the writing and recording of the album. The result is stark, fragile and raw, and a true testament to an artist trying to find his way through the darkness. It documents the writing, recording and performing of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ sixteenth studio album, Skeleton Tree.

Similar titles

Wild Women Don't Have the Blues
★ 8.5
Wild Women Don't Have the Blues1989Documentary · Music

Recaptures the lives and times of Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ida Cox, Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters, and the other legendary women who made blues music a vital part of American culture. The film brings together for the first time dozens of rare, classic renditions of the early blues.

The Music Man
★ 7.1
The Music Man1962Music

Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' bandleader to raise money before he can skip town.

Appointment in Tokyo
★ 6.4
Appointment in Tokyo1945Documentary

Produced by the Army Pictorial Service, Signal Corps, with the cooperation of the Army Air Forces and the United States Navy, and released by Warner Bros. for the War Activities Committee shortly after the surrender of Japan. Follow General Douglas MacArthur and his men from their exile from the Philippines in early 1942, through the signing of the instrument of surrender on the USS Missouri on September 1, 1945. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2013.

Stevie Wonder - Soul Genius
★ 8.0
Stevie Wonder - Soul Genius2013Documentary · Music

Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital
★ 10.0
Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital2014Documentary

This documentary film includes never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews to tell the story of Charity Hospital, from its roots to its controversial closing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From the firsthand accounts of healthcare providers and hospital employees who withstood the storm inside the hospital, to interviews with key players involved in the closing of Charity and the opening of New Orleans’ newest hospital, “Big Charity” shares the untold, true story around its closure and sheds new light on the sacrifices made for the sake of progress.

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Olympia 2023
Not rated
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Olympia 20232026Music

With The Innocent Criminals, American singer Ben Harper set the legendary Olympia stage alight. He performed his album Bloodline Maintenance there.

Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul
Not rated
Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul2024Documentary · Music

In early 1960s Toronto, a white, Anglo-centric city, an underground music scene emerged from the Jamaican diaspora, led by newcomers like Jackie Mittoo, Wayne McGhie, and a young Jay Douglas. Battling racism and indifference, they left a lasting but underrecognized mark on Canadian music and culture. Nearly 60 years later, Jay Douglas still champions Jamaican music and is finally receiving long-overdue recognition. Play It Loud is a feature documentary that tells the little-known story of how Jamaican music became a vital, unlikely part of Canadian culture. It traces a cultural migration that made Canada a global hub for Jamaican music - celebrated abroad but overlooked at home. Told through the life and music of beloved singer Jay Douglas, born Clive Pinnock in rural Jamaica, the film follows his journey from teen performer to enduring icon.

UNSPOKEN
Not rated
UNSPOKEN2022Documentary

An intimate insider’s journey to uncover buried truths and explore how the community in Monroe, Georgia has been impacted by the 1946 quadruple lynching and decades of racial injustice, shattering a code of silence that has distanced neighbor from neighbor for generations.

California's Golden Beginning
★ 9.0
California's Golden Beginning1948Documentary

A description and enactment of the discovery of gold by James Marshall, and the role played by John Sutter. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

Inside Hurricane Katrina
★ 9.0
Inside Hurricane Katrina2006Documentary

From the creators of critically acclaimed Inside 9/11 comes another powerful journalistic account, Inside Hurricane Katrina. Go beyond the round-the-clock news coverage for a comprehensive look behind the devastation caused by nature's fury and human error. How did this happen? Can it happen again? Why weren't emergency personnel fully ready to respond to a real disaster? Using comprehensive analysis of events, hours of government audio tapes, and personal interviews, National Geographic takes viewers into the eye of Katrina to uncover the decisions and circumstances that determined the fate of the Gulf residents.

The Sun's Gonna Shine
★ 6.9
The Sun's Gonna Shine1969Documentary · Music

A lyrical recreation of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ decision at age eight to stop chopping cotton and start singing for a living. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2013.

Disney Presents: Main Street Electrical Parade - Farewell Season
★ 5.4
Disney Presents: Main Street Electrical Parade - Farewell Season1996Documentary

Catch the spark after dark at Disneyland Park. And say farewell to one of the Magic Kingdom's most celebrated traditions - The Main Street Electrical Parade. Where else, but in The Main Street Electrical Parade, could you see an illuminated 40-foot-long fire-breathing dragon? And hear the energy of its legendary melody one last time? It's unforgettable after-dark magic that will glow in your heart long after the last float has disappeared.

Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards: Beautiful Noise
Not rated
Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards: Beautiful Noise2009Documentary · Music

Originally recorded for the Canadian TV show "A Beautiful Noise", this program includes additional interview and musical footage. Healey, playing trumpet and guitar, leads his excellent band The Jazz Wizards forward into musical history. As always, he delivers jazz from the past with humor, respect for the tradition, and a contemporary attitude. Healey gained worldwide fame as a stunningly original rock/blues guitarist. His passion, however, was the infectious and joyful music from the classic jazz era - the days when Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke ruled the music world.

Hip Hip Parade!
Not rated
Hip Hip Parade!1978Documentary

Hip Hip Parade! was a primetime special promoting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, originally broadcast on PBS stations throughout Thanksgiving week 1978. Hosting the special were Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, of The Muppet Show fame.

Showman
★ 6.7
Showman1963Documentary

Albert and David Maysles (Gimme Shelter) directed this 53-minute documentary about movie tycoon Joseph E. Levine (1963).

Schultze Gets the Blues
★ 6.6
Schultze Gets the Blues2003Music

Schultze is an accordion player and newly without work. When the local music club celebrates its 50th anniversary, his taste of music changes unexpectedly.

Hurricane on the Bayou
★ 5.8
Hurricane on the Bayou2006Documentary

The film "Hurricane on the Bayou" is about the wetlands of Louisiana before and after Hurricane Katrina.

Harlan County U.S.A.
★ 7.6
Harlan County U.S.A.1976Documentary

A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

Poster unavailable
Not rated
Between East and West1949Documentary

Short by Stuart Schulberg. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

Northern Soul: Living for the Weekend
★ 7.0
Northern Soul: Living for the Weekend2014Documentary · Music

The northern soul phenomenon was the most exciting underground British club movement of the 1970s. At its highpoint, thousands of disenchanted white working class youths across the north of England danced to obscure, mid-60s Motown-inspired sounds until the sun rose. A dynamic culture of fashions, dance moves, vinyl obsession and much more grew up around this - all fuelled by the love of rare black American soul music with an express-train beat.

Your favorites

Recently viewed

Watch

Choose an authorized server.

Full video from an operator-configured authorized source. Official trailers use a separate player. If a server fails, retry or select another authorized server.

Legal watch options

Official trailer

Trailer preview only. Press Play to start.

Privacy choices

Favorites stay in your browser. Movie images load from TMDb. YouTube trailers contact YouTube only after you allow external media and choose a trailer. Advertising consent, if ads are enabled, is managed separately by the operator’s certified CMP.

Privacy policy

After allowing external media, choose the trailer button to load its player.