St. Louis Blues (1958 film)
| St. Louis Blues | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Allen Reisner |
| Written by | Ted Sherdeman Robert Smith |
| Produced by | Robert Smith |
| Starring | Nat King Cole Eartha Kitt |
| Cinematography | Haskell B. Boggs |
| Edited by | Eda Warren |
| Music by | W. C. Handy |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
St. Louis Blues is a 1958 American film broadly based on the life of W. C. Handy. It stars jazz and blues greats Nat "King" Cole, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, and Barney Bigard, as well as gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and actress Ruby Dee. The film's soundtrack uses over ten of Handy's songs, including the title song. In conjunction with the film, Cole recorded an album of W. C. Handy compositions, arranged by Nelson Riddle, and Fitzgerald incorporated "St. Louis Blues" into her concert repertoire.
Plot
[edit]A 1958 American film broadly based on the life of W. C. Handy. Although his Mother loved music, his Father, because of his beliefs, refuses to acknowledge his son’s musical talent. While struggling with his heart and what is right, W.C Handy leads a double life. A classic tale of parent and child pulled in different directions and the distance it brings to their relationship, or does it? The cast bring this story to the screen with music and song that is not to be missed.
Cast
[edit]- Nat King Cole as W.C. Handy
- Eartha Kitt as Gogo Germaine
- Cab Calloway as Blade
- Ella Fitzgerald as herself
- Mahalia Jackson as Bessie May
- Ruby Dee as Elizabeth
- Juano Hernandez as Rev. Charles Handy
- Teddy Buckner as Musician
- Barney Bigard as Musician
- George Callender as Musician
- Lee Young as Musician
- George Washington as Musician
- Billy Preston as Will Handy as a boy
- Pearl Bailey as Aunt Hagar
- Jester Hairston as Choir Master/Singer
Release
[edit]The film had its world premiere on April 10, 1958, at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, less than two weeks after Handy's death.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b St. Louis Blues at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
External links
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- 1958 films
- 1958 drama films
- 1950s musical drama films
- American musical drama films
- American black-and-white films
- African-American musical drama films
- Jazz films
- Biographical films about musicians
- Musical films based on actual events
- Paramount Pictures films
- Cultural depictions of jazz musicians
- 1950s American films
- Biographical film stubs
- Musical drama film stubs