THELONIOUS MONK: STRAIGHT, NO CHASER (1988) - Blu-ray Release of Classic Documentary

Thelonious Monk Straight No Chaser New On Bluray Criterion Collection

Product Description: 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.

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Movie Details

Available Formats (Purchasing Links)

Video

Audio

Subtitles

Special Features & Extras

Trailer and Clips

Pictures

MOVIE DETAILS

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Director: Charlotte Zwerin

Starring: Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Jimmy Cleveland

Genre: Biography, Documentary, Music

Runtime: 90 min

Rating: PG-13

Language: English

Studio: Criterion

Home Video Release Date: June 17, 2025

AVAILABLE FORMATS (Amazon):

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Blu-ray

VIDEO

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Blu-ray

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Region: Region A/1

AUDIO

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Dubbed:

Blu-ray: None

Audio Formats:

Blu-ray: LPCM Mono

SUBTITLES

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Blu-ray: English SDH

SPECIAL FEATURES & EXTRAS

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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, assistant 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