A star vehicle and then some, bessie casts queen latifah as blues singer bessie smith, in a big, bold movie thats as vibrant, raw and musical as it is unfocused and messy. The early sound film features smith in an africanamerican. The film focuses on smith s transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and influential musical artists of the 20th century. Released 2015, bessie stars queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, khandi alexander, mike epps the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 0 min, and received a.
Nicknamed the empress of the blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. Bessie smith began to sing at a young age and in 1923 signed a contract with columbia records. Whatever one might say about the limitations of the story line, derived from the w. This firstrate biopic charts her evolution from singer to star. Queen latifahs spellbinding performance as bessie smith and sensational music more than compensate for the bynow conventional story of a musical artists rise and fall. The film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s. Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. The latter was adapted from the 2008 novel by the same name by hillary jordan and earned rees an academy award nomination for best adapted screenplay. Watch bessie smith in her only movie appearance, the 1929 short film st.
Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv. It is the only movie ever made about bessie so at least it is a step in the right direction. Hbos bessie, premiering saturday on the network, is a flawed drama that nonetheless warrants a look simply because of the bright spotlight it gives the underrated talents of star queen latifah, who does quite easily the best work of her career here. This sexuallycharged, intense look at blues icon bessie smith often feels defiantly episodic, as if cowriterdirector dee rees is. She also sings all of smith s songs in the filmin full voiced, guttural fashion, which you can hear on the alreadyreleased bessie soundtrack. Bessie smith st louis blues full movie 1929 youtube. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, who. Bessie smith was among the great legends of 20s and 30s blues. This movie was a bit milk toast but did have a few vignettes from true stories but really played down. As of 2016, bessie remained the most watched hbo original movie of all time with 1. The early sound film features smith in an africanamerican speakeasy of the pro. The story of legendary blues performer, bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Bessie achieving a level of popularity previously unknown to blues musicians, bessie smith was not only an imposing performer, she was a major influence on generations of artists to come. Bessie full subtitle all country worldwide watch bessie in hd, watch bessie free movie, watch bessie online, bessie full movie, watch bessie full movie.
Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. She is known for her feature films pariah 2011, bessie 2015, and mudbound 2017. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer widely renowned during the jazz age. She made 160 recordings in all, in many of which she was. Queen latifah chicago stars as the title character bessie smith in hbos bessie, a biopic on the life of the american legendary blues singer. Its one of the most important parts of the film duration. Smith s oldest sister, viola, took over raising smith and her four other young siblingstinnie, lulu, andrew, and clarence, who is seen prominently in the movie as he travels with bessie. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose. Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. I have heard the stories about bessie smith but it was nice to find out more about her and others from the area. Louis blues is a 1929 american tworeel short film starring bessie smith. In one of the first talkies ever made, bessie catches her twotiming boyfriend, jimmy, fooling around with a younger woman. Bessie smith hbo movie leaves out car accident, tragic.
Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees. Its challenging to portray a complicated artists life in a twohour movie, but writerdirector dee rees and her team have managed to avoid the pitfalls of such an effort by. Browse the full bessie cast and crew credits for actors by character names from the hbo original program. In one of the first talkies ever made, bessie catches her twotiming.
According to some old newspaper articles, bessie smith, known as the greatest female blues. Did bessie accurately reflect bessie smith s sexuality and relationships. Did bessie accurately reflect bessie smiths sexuality. Whatever she did loved, laughed, sang she did it full force. Bessie smith died in a car accident in mississippi on september 26, 1937, while on her way to do a show, which would have marked the beginning of a possible comeback tour. Bessie smith museum a quick stop at the museum was informative to those who have never been to chattanooga or spent much time listening to the blues. Bessie tv movie 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Though the peaks and ebbs in her relationships are rarely investigated in full during the film, bessie s romantic scenes are some of its most unconventional and intriguing moments, and what we take away is that she teetered back and forth between hetero and.
In this allblack cast short, legendary blues singer bessie smith finds her gambler lover jimmy messin with a pretty, younger woman. Bessie smith was one of the greatest blues vocalists ever. Handy song by the director, dudley murphy, and handy himself. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her. Louis blues 1929 watch bessie smith in her only movie appearance, the 1929 short film st. With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. In this film, this spirit is on full display as bessie drinks for pleasure and pain, has. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of. Queen latifah stars as bessie smith in this vivid portrait of the legendary 20th century blues singer. Bessie smith, in full elizabeth smith, born april 15, 1894. It really captured bessie smiths spirit, struggles and triumphs.
Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by dee rees and christopher cleveland. With bessie smith, jimmy mordecai, isabel washington, hall johnson choir. When i heard this movie was coming out i just chuckled to myself thinking. Hbo films presents bessie, focusing on legendary blues singer bessie smith, saturday. Though shes been the subject of documentaries such as the ladies sing the blues 1989, she has only one actual film credit, a performance in the 17minute film the st.