Various - Storyville - the Naked Dance (NTSC) [DVD] [2000]

New Orleans' notorious red-light district and the birth of jazz. This is the first documentary about America's legendary, legal red-light district that thrived in New Orleans from 1898 until World War 1. Set against the stark backdrop of Victorian morality, 2000 prostitutes worked the 16 square blocks of twinkling lights and rat-infested alleyways. It was a district filled with greed, excitement, sin and the raucous rhythms of a new American music: Jazz. Storyville explores the genesis of jazz and its relationship to the decadent sportin' life through colourful jazz legends such as Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton and a soundtrack that combines a rich medley of ragtime, blues, music of the streets, early jazz tunes and the voices of musicians who played there. Visual centerpieces are the sensual portraits of Storyville's prostitutes photographed by E.J.Belocq. Colour, approx' 60 minutes.