Bessie smith was originally from tennessee and became an orphan at a very young age. Bessie smith always had ambitions to be on the stage as a respected performer. In this allblack cast short, legendary blues singer bessie smith finds her gambler lover jimmy messin with a pretty, younger woman. 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 score of out of 100 on metacritic.
Rent bessie smith movies and tv shows on dvd and bluray. Early on in bessie, a new hbo biopic premiering saturday and starring queen latifah as the singer bessie smith, smiths abouttobe mentor, ma rainey played by. Find out where bessie is streaming, if bessie is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. 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. May 16, 2015 early on in bessie, a new hbo biopic premiering saturday and starring queen latifah as the singer bessie smith, smith s abouttobe mentor, ma rainey played by monique, offers a musicological. May 10, 2015 bessie smith, too, took care to create a world she felt at home in. When i heard this movie was coming out i just chuckled to myself thinking about all the. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith. 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 is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues. The film, which has its premiere saturday night on hbo, stars queen latifah as bessie smith, a woman who is. 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. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees. With bessie, the 2015 emmywinning hbo film, rees told the story of celebrated blues singer bessie smith, who is regarded as one of the finest of her era, if not of all time. Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable. The hbo film will be released in may, and is directed by dee rees.
Leah lewis, star of new netflix movie the half of it, shares which legendary. Make your movie list and get blurays and dvds conveniently delivered to you with free shipping both ways. Mar 25, 2016 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. Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv. Bessie smith was born on april 15, 1894 in chattanooga, tennessee, usa as elizabeth smith. The best of bessie smith, an album by bessie smith on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. One scene in bessie finds young smith chased around the house at knifepoint by. Most of our subscribers receive their discs within two business days. One scene in bessie finds young smith chased around the. With bessie smith, jimmy mordecai, isabel washington, hall johnson choir. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s.
Apr 03, 2015 check out the new trailer for bessie, the hbo biopic of blues singer bessie smith starring queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, and monique. Bessie had several siblings and after her parents passed away her eldest sister was left to raise the children. Watch the trailer for the hbo biopic, starring queen. Bessie smith was among the great legends of 20s and 30s blues.
Heres a sneakpeek at queen latifah as bessie smith, the empress of the blues, in hbos upcoming biopic bessie. Apr 24, 2015 heres a sneakpeek at queen latifah as bessie smith, the empress of the blues, in hbos upcoming biopic bessie. Bessie is a story weve seen before, complete with feathers, spangles, and bootleg liquor as the action meanders through the 1920s, but a script about a queer black woman smith was bisexual by. Apr 14, 2017 bessie smith hailed from chattanooga, tennessee, raised dirt poor and an orphanher parents died when she was 9. The 44yearold actress discussed the project at the television. Have a look below to see the official soundtrack list for the 2015 music movie, bessie, including scene descriptions a. Bessie has been in development for more than two decades, giving latifah plenty of time to get comfortable in bessie smiths shoes. Mar 16, 2017 bessie smith had a hit on the song in 1925 and handy himself asked bessie smith to appear in the movie. Achieving a level of popularity previously unknown to blues musicians, bessie smith was not only an imposing performer, she was a major influence. 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.
Watch bessie smith in her only movie appearance, the 1929 short film st. 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. Queen latifah stars as smith, and supporting roles are played by michael kenneth williams as smith s first husband jack gee. 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. Queen latifah to play blues icon bessie smith in hbo movie. May 15, 2015 bessie is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is more soul. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her. Reportedly in the making for 22 years from a script by horton foote, its easy to see why bessie was a film inevitability. Achieving a level of popularity previously unknown to blues musicians, bessie smith was not only an imposing performer. This movie was a bit milk toast but did have a few vignettes from true stories but really played down. It is the only movie ever made about bessie so at least it is a step in the right direction. She died on september 26, 1937 in clarksdale, mississippi, usa.
The film is directed by dee rees, with a screenplay by rees, christopher cleveland and bettina gilois. Rees tells the story of legendary singer bessie smith as one of queer exploration, with ma rainey monique acting as butch mentor to the titular star, played the amazing queen latifah. As of 2016, bessie remained the most watched hbo original movie of all time with 1. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid. 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. Licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of legacy recordings. Over fifty years of published art schiffer book for collectors by karen choppa, bessie pease gutmann. The number one attraction should be the complete and satisfyingly restored dudley murphys film st. According to some old newspaper articles, bessie smith, known as the greatest female blues singer of all time, was killed on. Bessie smith st louis blues full movie 1929 youtube. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone.
This firstrate biopic charts her evolution from singer to star. Bessie is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is more soul. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the. May 01, 2014 hbo has greenlighted its next highprofile longform project, a film about iconic blues singer bessie smith who will be portrayed by queen latifah. May, 2015 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. Whatever she did loved, laughed, sang she did it full force. Bessie smith hbo movie leaves out car accident, tragic. The myth was amplified in 1959 when edward albee wrote a oneact play titled the death of bessie smith, which is set in the white hospital where she was supposed to have been taken. Movies, tv shows, specials and more, its all tailored specifically to you. Parents need to know that bessie, with its tourdeforce performance by queen latifah, is for mature audiences only.
Queen latifah stars in her golden globenominated role as the legendary bessie smith, blues legend and soul icon who rose to fame in the. Handy coauthored the film and was the musical director. The persona she portrays, simultaneously warm and rowdy, is. Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships and incomparable artistry in the. The best will smith movies on netflix 1 bright 2017 a netflix original movie, bright is an utterly silly, completely ridiculous movie, seemingly born out of algorithmgenerated, genrehybrid. Hbo has greenlighted its next highprofile longform project, a film about iconic blues singer bessie smith who will be portrayed by queen latifah. In one of the first talkies ever made, bessie catches her twotiming. Though shes been the subject of documentaries such as the ladies sing the blues 1989, she has only one actual film credit, a. The film, which has its premiere saturday night on hbo, stars queen latifah as bessie smith, a. Since 1998, dvd netflix has been the premier dvdbymail rental service. Bessie was an hbo film about bessie smith, a legendary blues singer. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by.
Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress. Browse the full bessie cast and crew credits for actors by character names from the hbo original program. Queen latifah stars in her golden globenominated role as the legendary bessie smith, blues legend and soul icon who rose to fame in the 1920s. This is a great story of a relatively unheralded talent. Best queer movies to stream on netflix, amazon prime and. Bessie smith hailed from chattanooga, tennessee, raised dirt poor and an orphanher parents died when she was 9. Bessie, on hbo, stars queen latifah as blues singer. With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. 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. Watch the trailer for the hbo biopic, starring queen latifah by chris cabin april 3, 2015.
Queen latifah stars in bessie on hbo the new york times. The best of bessie smith by bessie smith on spotify. 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. Netflix is the home of amazing original programming that you cant find anywhere else.
In telling the story of bessie smith, a dazzlingly talented blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, the filmmakers successfully provide an indepth portrait of the emotional volatility and the music of an africanamerican icon. Bessie smith, too, took care to create a world she felt at home in. Bessie soundtrack list 2015 complete tracklist, all songs played in the movie and in the trailer, who sings them, soundtrack details and the entire music playlist of the album. Queen latifah to star as bessie smith in hbo movie. Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. The film focuses on smiths 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. Bessie smith had a hit on the song in 1925 and handy himself asked bessie smith to appear in the movie. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to.
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