A documentary film about the life of pianist and jazz great Thelonious Monk. Features live performances by Monk and his band, and interviews with friends and family about the offbeat genius.
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Jimmy Cleveland | Self (trombonist / Thelonious Monk Octet) |
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Harry Colomby | Self (personal manager) |
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John Coltrane | Self |
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Ray Copeland | Self (Thelonious Monk Octet: trumpet) |
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Nica De Koenigswarter | Self |
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Tommy Flanagan | Self (duo / piano performance) |
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Larry Gales | Self (Thelonius Monk Quartet |
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Johnny Griffin | Self (Thelonious Monk Octet / tenor sax) |
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Barry Harris | Self (duo / piano performance) |
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Bob Jones | Self (road manager) |
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Teo Macero | Self (Columbia Records producer) |
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Thelonious Monk Jr. | Self |
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Nellie Monk | Self |
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Thelonious Monk | Self |
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Frank Paccione | Self -Vocalist |
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Ben Riley | Self (Thelonious Monk Quartet |
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Charlie Rouse | Self (Thelonious Monk Quartet: saxophone / Thelonious Monk Octet: tenor saxophone) |
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Phil Woods | Self (Thelonious Monk Octet / alto sax) |
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Samuel E. Wright | Narrator |
| Director | Charlotte Zwerin |
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| Producer | Clint Eastwood, Bruce Ricker, Charlotte Zwerin | |
| Musician | Dick Hyman | |
| Photography | Christian Blackwood | |
| Edition | The Criterion Collection |
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| Packaging | HD Case |
| Nr Discs | 1 |
| Screen Ratios | Standard (1.33:1) |
| Audio Tracks | Mono [English] |
| Subtitles | English (SDH) |
| Distributor | The Criterion Collection |
| Layers | Single side, Dual layer |
| Regions | Region A |
| Index | 2783 |
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| Added Date | Dec 26, 2025 15:06:01 |
| Modified Date | Dec 26, 2025 15:24:01 |
Christmas 2025 gift from Beth
The closest a film camera ever got to enigmatic jazz visionary Thelonious Monk, this intimate portrait sheds light on the corners of a brilliant and complex life. Superbly crafted by Direct Cinema pioneer Charlotte Zwerin from a trove of precious 1960s archival footage, Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser captures the pianist, composer, and bebop innovator in rare, unguarded moments on- and offstage, revealing an eccentric and complicated personality. Made with the same freedom of spirit that defines Monk’s artistry, this essential slice of jazz history is a unique glimpse into the quixotic world of one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary artists.
New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Introduction by director Charlotte Zwerin
New interview with musician T. S. Monk, son of Thelonious Monk
New program about Zwerin and the making of the film featuring interviews with writer Michael Schulman, editor Bernadine Colish, and Zwerin’s nieces Lisa and Laura Tesone
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by musician and scholar Paul Grimstad
New cover by Adam Maida
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