Bessie smith, american singer, one of the greatest blues vocalists. If you are interested to know more about the well known american blues singer, check facts about bessie smith. Although she was dropped by columbia in 1931 and made her final recordings on a foursong session in 1933, bessie smith kept on. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a. The legend of bessie smith, who was born on 15 april 1984, and died, aged just 43, on 26 september 1937, has created an extra layer to what was a fascinating and monumental career. Bessie smith gender and sexuality student services. Louis blues is a 1929 american tworeel short film starring bessie smith. Did bessie accurately reflect bessie smiths sexuality and. Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable. Bessie smith was born in chattanooga, tennessee in 1894. Hbo films presents bessie, focusing on legendary blues singer bessie smith, saturday, may 16 at 8pm. 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. Dee rees has been clear that she left out that part in the movie because she wanted to focus on bessie smiths heroic life instead. Bessie smith hbo movie leaves out car accident, tragic death.
No one can sing like bessie smith, but queen latifah does have a great voice and comes pretty close to smiths. The movie soundtrack of bessie will be released on may 12, 2015 by legacy recordings. Department of afroamerican research arts culture 48,261 views. Blues singer bessie smith, killed in mississippi car wreck.
Well, gpi the developers of a long overdue movie on the life of colorful and pioneering blues singer bessie smith known and respected worldwide as the empress of blues are seeing to it that such disappointments do not happen. Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Bessie smith was among the great legends of 20s and 30s blues. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the blues. Her first recording, downhearted blues, established her as the most successful black vocalist of her time. Legendary blues singer bessie smith is buried near philadelphia, pennsylvania, on october 4, 1937. Watch bessie smith in her only movie appearance, the 1929 short film st. Bessie s story is sometimes violent bessie was never one to back away from a physical fight that might victimize her. Besides latifah, monique as ma rainey is the other standout performance in the film.
May 16, 2015 dont expect hbos bessie smith movie to air the details of the freak car accident and tragic death of the blues singer tonight, unless a last minute change has been added. Feb 26, 2020 bessie smith songs downhearted blues by the early 1920s, smith had settled down and was living in philadelphia, and in 1923 she met and married a man named jack gee. Bessie smith hbo movie leaves out car accident, tragic. As bessie smith s mentor, ma rainey is every bit as fiery as bessie, demanding respect as an artist and as a woman and breaking gender and sexual norms. In 1920s and 1930s, she became the most popular blues singer in. This movie was a bit milk toast but did have a few vignettes from true stories but really played down. Queen latifah stars as smith, and supporting roles are played by michael kenneth williams as smith s first husband jack gee. Mar 16, 2017 bessie smith had a hit on the song in 1925 and handy himself asked bessie smith to appear in the movie. Did bessie accurately reflect bessie smiths sexuality and relationships. In latifahs hands, her desires serve as surrogates for quelling her early childhood trauma, but simultaneously fill her with joy, because theyre.
She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with louis armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists. As of 2016, bessie remained the most watched hbo original movie of all time with 1. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie. Bessie smith st louis blues full movie 1929 youtube. Whatever she did loved, laughed, sang she did it full force. The film focuses on legendary blues singer bessie 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. 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. Handy coauthored the film and was the musical director. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing bessie smith near you. The av club says the movie paints smith as someone who could never quite be satiated. As bessie smiths mentor, ma rainey is every bit as fiery as bessie. Apr 14, 2017 queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable bessie smith like a boss queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Bessie is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is.
May 15, 2015 bessie hides none of smiths demons or resilience. Louis blues that year a lowbudget movie short that contains the only footage of her, but her hit recording of nobody knows you when youre down and out predicted her leaner depression years. When i heard this movie was coming out i just chuckled to myself thinking about all the. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by. Smith was born on 15 april 1894 and passed away on 26 september 1937. Louis blues 1958, nat king cole, eartha kitt, ruby dee duration. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a. With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. Queen latifah plays blues singer bessie smith in the hbo movie bessie. In one of the first talkies ever made, bessie catches her twotiming boyfriend, jimmy, fooling around with a younger woman. Bessie queen latifah as the blues singer bessie smith in this film.
Aug 18, 2011 i didnt know much about bessie smith except that she was a famous blues singer, but playwright angelo parra candidly and vividly exposes every demon smith dealt with during her life. Reportedly in the making for 22 years from a script by horton foote, its easy to see why. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. It is the only movie ever made about bessie so at least it is a step in the right direction. Bessie smith songs downhearted blues by the early 1920s, smith had settled down and was living in philadelphia, and in 1923 she met and married a man named jack gee. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes bessie smith study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays.
Dont expect hbos bessie smith movie to air the details of the freak car accident and tragic death of the blues singer tonight, unless a last minute change has been added. An hbo films presentation, bessie stars oscar nominee queen latifah chicago in the title role and focuses on legendary blues singer bessie smiths transformation from a struggling young vocalist into the empress of the blues, one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. 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. She died on september 26, 1937 in clarksdale, mississippi, usa.
As bessie smiths mentor, ma rainey is every bit as fiery as bessie, demanding respect as an artist and as a woman and breaking gender and sexual norms. No one can sing like bessie smith, but queen latifah does have a great voice and comes pretty close to smith s. Did bessie accurately reflect bessie smiths sexuality. A sweet scene in the movie shows recording engineers. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. 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. Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid. Bessie, on hbo, stars queen latifah as blues singer. The early sound film features smith in an africanamerican. This is a great story of a relatively unheralded talent. Louis blues 1929 watch bessie smith in her only movie appearance, the 1929 short film st.
Her career began in 1912 when she sang in a show with ma rainey. Smith, who was born in tennessee, became a star in the early days of recorded music. Bessie smith was born into poverty in chattanooga, tennessee, one of seven children of william and laura smith. Its a pleasure to watch and hear them wail in a film that otherwise. May 10, 2015 queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. Bessie, hbos new biopic from writerdirector dee rees, tracks bessie smiths rise to fame as the empress of bluesand delivers stunning performances from starring actresses queen latifah. In one of the first talkies ever made, bessie catches her twotiming. Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships. Her father died soon after her birth and her mother and two of her brothers died by the time she was eight or. Bringing the empress of blues bessie smith to the big. Parents need to know that bessie, with its tourdeforce performance by queen latifah, is for mature audiences only.
Bessie smith had a hit on the song in 1925 and handy himself asked bessie smith to appear in the movie. Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable bessie smith like a boss queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Bessies story is sometimes violent bessie was never one to back away from a physical fight that might victimize her. 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. Hbo released a movie about smith, bessie, starring queen latifah, on may 16, 2015. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her. 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.
Each june, the bessie smith cultural center in chattanooga sponsors the bessie smith strut as part of the citys riverbend festival. 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. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer. One of seven children, smith grew up in a oneroom shack in one of the poorest quarters of chattanooga, and by the age of nine had lost both her parents, smith and her brother made extra money by singing for spare change on street corners. 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. Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. Bessie smith was born on april 15, 1894 in chattanooga, tennessee, usa as elizabeth smith. May 16, 2015 bessie, hbos new biopic from writerdirector dee rees, tracks bessie smiths rise to fame as the empress of bluesand delivers stunning performances from starring actresses queen latifah. 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. I didnt know much about bessie smith except that she was a famous blues singer, but playwright angelo parra candidly and vividly exposes every demon smith dealt with during her life. Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. See photos of the real bessie smith, jack gee, ma rainey and richard morgan. A mississippi car accident in 1937 cut short the life of bessie smith. Browse the full bessie cast and crew credits for actors by character names from the hbo original program.
Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith. Latifah was best known as a rap artist in the 1990s when producers richard d. The film is directed by dee rees, with a screenplay by rees, christopher cleveland and bettina gilois. Her father died soon after her birth and her mother and two of her brothers died by the time she was eight or nine. Queen latifah stars as bessie smith in this vivid portrait of the legendary 20th century blues singer. Reportedly in the making for 22 years from a script by horton foote, its easy to see why bessie was a film inevitability. Nicknamed the empress of the blues, smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. 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.
624 286 1273 943 403 98 842 1102 296 1057 952 1538 1277 921 66 284 361 1470 1382 201 447 72 1102 166 1429 1149 12 112 831 365 768 1102 383 870 197 1072 1424 156