See You in Hell, Blind Boy

Artist/writer George Pratt directed this documentary, which developed out of a book project he was doing on country blues. Setting off for Mississippi in search of the Delta Blues, in general, and the grave of bluesman Mississippi John Hurt, in particular, Pratt provides viewers with a brief history of the Delta blues, as well as the African-American experience in the days of share-cropping and levee-building. He finds Hurt's grave, and his son, John Jr. (who plays his father's song, "Avalon") in Avalon, MS. Also included are film clips of performances by Howlin' Wolf, Skip James and Muddy Waters. Pratt also visits what's left of Muddy's shack on the Stovall Plantation and spends some time with Jack Owens, Skip James' former running mate. A fine artist, whose pen and ink work is particularly powerful (and we get to see a good bit of it), Pratt's documentary is pretty randomly presented, unfortunately, and of only marginal interest to knowledgeable blues fans. An optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Van Vleck)