Les Blank: Always for Pleasure

An uncompromisingly independent filmmaker, Les Blank made documentaries for nearly fifty years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen—mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad. Seemingly off-the-cuff yet poetically constructed, these films are humane, sometimes wry, always engaging tributes to music, food, and all sorts of regionally specific delights. This collector’s set provides a diverse survey of Les Blank’s vast output, including fourteen of his best-known works and eight related short films.

1. God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance (1968)
2. The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1968)
3. A Well Spent Life (1971)
4. Spend It All (1972)
5. Dry Wood (1973)
6. Hot Pepper (1973)
7. Always for Pleasure (1978)
8. Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980)
9. Sprout Wings and Fly (1983)
10. In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984)
11. Gap-Toothed Women (1987)
12. Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana (1990)
13. Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (1995)
14. The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995)