Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins comes from the true school of tattoo artists of the 50's, credited by most to modestly bring the art to the forefront of Americana. This doc could not have done a better job of retelling the beginning, the uprising, and the current state of tattoo artistry. This included great historical context as well, dating back to the Japanese's initial contribution to the art. The doc also included informative and entertaining interviews from some of Sailor Jerry's lifelong peers and admirers. (The only missing interviewed subject was Hori Smoku himself). I highly recommend this documentary of one of America's now prevalent subcultures. A fascinating, must-see film!

Sailor Jerry was a pioneer of the tattoo industry, beginning from his service in the Navy, until his death over forty years later. Infusing Japanese tattoo art into his American designs, he revolutionized how the world saw tattoos, and made a mark on the industry as indelible as his work. Hori Smoku presents a look at Jerry's legacy through his peers and colleagues that knew him best.

The film is a look at the obscure world of tattoos, chronicling Jerry's initiation into the industry, and his decades-long impact and innovations that put him at the top of the pyramid. Colleagues and friends, each highly respected tattooists themselves, recount Jerry's history and his no-apologies approach to a small, closed community of body artists. Hori Smoku is a look not at tattooing as an art craft, but on Jerry's work and how it changed the course of the art forever. The film plays well to those unfamiliar with Jerry and his colleagues' work; a knowledge of tattoo history and lore is not a prerequisite. It is the story of an utterly fascinating man that can be enjoyed by anyone willing to peer into the seedy underworld of tattoos.