Les Blank

Directing · 1935–2013 · Tampa, Florida, USA

Biography

Les Blank was an American documentary filmmaker best known for his portraits of American traditional musicians.

Acting · 7

How To Smell A Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy

How To Smell A Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy

2014

Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!

Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank!

2008

Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985)

Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985)

1985

A Poem Is a Naked Person

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974

Screening Room

Screening Room

1972

Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

1960

Here Comes Everybody

Here Comes Everybody

1960

Directing · 46

Motorcycle Moment

Motorcycle Moment

2025

Thailand Moment

Thailand Moment

2015

How To Smell A Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy

How To Smell A Rose: A Visit with Ricky Leacock at his Farm in Normandy

2014

All In This Tea

All In This Tea

2007

Lagniappe

Lagniappe

2006

The Maestro Rides Again!

The Maestro Rides Again!

2005

The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists

The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists

1995

Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella

Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella

1995

My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge

My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge

1994

Innocents Abroad

Innocents Abroad

1991

Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge

Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge

1991

Puamana

Puamana

1991

Marc and Ann

Marc and Ann

1991

Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana

Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana

1990

I Went to the Dance

I Went to the Dance

1989

POV

POV

1988

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

1988

Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball

Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball

1988

Živeli! Medicine for the Heart

Živeli! Medicine for the Heart

1987

Huey Lewis and the News: Before!

Huey Lewis and the News: Before!

1987

Gap-Toothed Women

Gap-Toothed Women

1987

Cigarette Blues

Cigarette Blues

1985

Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985)

Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985)

1985

In Heaven There Is No Beer?

In Heaven There Is No Beer?

1984

Sprout Wings and Fly

Sprout Wings and Fly

1983

Burden of Dreams

Burden of Dreams

1982

Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers

Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers

1980

Always for Pleasure

Always for Pleasure

1978

Chulas Fronteras

Chulas Fronteras

1976

A Poem Is a Naked Person

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974

Hot Pepper

Hot Pepper

1973

Dry Wood

Dry Wood

1973

Spend It All

Spend It All

1972

A Well Spent Life

A Well Spent Life

1971

The Ways of Water

The Ways of Water

1971

Chicken Real

Chicken Real

1970

The Sun's Gonna Shine

The Sun's Gonna Shine

1969

Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down

Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down

1969

The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins

The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins

1968

God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance

God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance

1968

Lightnin' Les

Lightnin' Les

1968

Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie

1964

Softball Umpire

Softball Umpire

1962

And Freedom Came?!

And Freedom Came?!

1962

Strike!

Strike!

1961

Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

1960

Camera · 23

Tattoo Uprising

Tattoo Uprising

2019

Lagniappe

Lagniappe

2006

The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists

The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists

1995

Hole in the Soul

Hole in the Soul

1994

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

1991

I Went to the Dance

I Went to the Dance

1989

Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball

Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball

1988

Gap-Toothed Women

Gap-Toothed Women

1987

Cigarette Blues

Cigarette Blues

1985

In Heaven There Is No Beer?

In Heaven There Is No Beer?

1984

Sprout Wings and Fly

Sprout Wings and Fly

1983

Burden of Dreams

Burden of Dreams

1982

Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers

Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers

1980

Poto and Cabengo

Poto and Cabengo

1980

Always for Pleasure

Always for Pleasure

1978

A Poem Is a Naked Person

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974

String Sounds

String Sounds

1969

Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down

Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down

1969

The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins

The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins

1968

New Sounds in Music

New Sounds in Music

1968

Christopher Tree

Christopher Tree

1967

Seven Second Love Affair

Seven Second Love Affair

1965

Pleasure Faire

Pleasure Faire

1964

Production · 11

Editing · 9

Treasure of the Lisu

Treasure of the Lisu

2010

Always for Pleasure

Always for Pleasure

1978

Chulas Fronteras

Chulas Fronteras

1976

A Poem Is a Naked Person

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974

Spend It All

Spend It All

1972

A Well Spent Life

A Well Spent Life

1971

Delusion of the Fury: A Ritual of Dream and Delusion

Delusion of the Fury: A Ritual of Dream and Delusion

1971

The Arch

The Arch

1969

Christopher Tree

Christopher Tree

1967

Crew · 7

Innocents Abroad

Innocents Abroad

1991

Puamana

Puamana

1991

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

1988

Fitzcarraldo

Fitzcarraldo

1982

Spend It All

Spend It All

1972

A Well Spent Life

A Well Spent Life

1971

The Ways of Water

The Ways of Water

1971

Writing · 3

Treasure of the Lisu

Treasure of the Lisu

2010

Gap-Toothed Women

Gap-Toothed Women

1987

A Poem Is a Naked Person

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974