Wild Man Blues is a 1998
documentary film directed by
Barbara Kopple, about the musical
avocation of actor/director/comic
Woody Allen. The film takes its name from a
jazz composition sometimes attributed to
Jelly Roll Morton and sometimes to
Louis Armstrong and recorded by both (among others). Allen's love of early 20th century
New Orleans music is depicted through his 1996 tour of Europe with his New Orleans Jazz Band. Allen has played clarinet with this band for over 25 years.
Although Allen's European tour is the film's primary focus, it was also notable as the first major public showcase for Allen's relationship with
Soon-Yi Previn.
The film has never been released on
DVD, and a one-time
VHS release is now out-of-print.