Bessie Smith Movies
Bessie Smith was among the great legends of '20s and '30s blues. Though she's been the subject of documentaries such as The Ladies Sing the Blues (1989), she has only one actual film credit, a performance in the 17-minute film The St. Louis Blues (1929). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1993
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In the mid-1920's, just as jazz was firmly establishing itself as America's dominant popular music form, new advancements in motion picture technology allowed sound to be recorded along with moving pictures, and as a fortunate consequence many of the great artists of the first renaissance of jazz were captured by "talking picture" camera. At The Jazz Band Ball: Early Hot Jazz, Song and Dance is a documentary which compiles rare archival footage of a number of legendary artists, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington (leading the Cotton Club Orchestra), Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, The Boswell Sisters, The Dorsey Brothers, and many more. This collection also features the only known filmed performances of pioneering blues vocalist Bessie Smith, and the highly influential cornet man Bix Beiderbecke. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1993
Follow the birth of blues and all of its growing pains. Footage of great stars including Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Jimmy Rushing, Big Bill Broonzy, Mamie Smith, Roy Milton, Leadbelly and Son House. ~ Rovi
- 1993
- Add Masters of American Music: Bluesland - A Portrait of American Music to Queue Add Masters of American Music: Bluesland - A Portrait of American Music to top of Queue
Bluesland: A Portrait of American Music presents a swinging look at the history and highlights of a rich musical heritage. Rare footage and concert films fill out this 90-minute documentary. As the soundtrack for the downtrodden, the blues has blossomed in folk circles. The characters that populate its landscape are both brilliant and tragic. Such artists making appearances in Bluesland: A Portrait of American Music are Bessie Smith, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Dinah Washington, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Writers Albert Murray and Robert Palmer discuss the evolution of the blues. ~ Sarah Ing, Rovi
- 1991
- Add Masters of American Music: Lady Day - The Many Faces of Billie Holiday to Queue Add Masters of American Music: Lady Day - The Many Faces of Billie Holiday to top of Queue
Billie Holiday is recognized as one of the greatest blues and jazz vocalists of all time. This program tells her story. Holiday's song, "Strange Fruit," a reference to the lynching of black Americans in the South, was voted the most important piece of music of the 20th century. The singer experienced firsthand the indignities of racism in her native land. She found solace in the alcohol and drugs which eventually killed her. Her music continues to thrill audiences. Many of her signature tunes are included in this documentary, such as "St. Louis Blues," "My Man," and "God Bless the Child." Archival film clips show Billie Holiday in performances in film, television, and concert appearances. Interviews with musical colleagues and friends give insight into the troubled life of this giant of American music. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
A French music lover befriends a once-great American jazz artist and attempts to save him from self-destruction in this moody drama. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon portrays Dale Turner, a fictional musician inspired by a number of famed jazz figures, including Bud Powell and Lester Young. Largely forgotten in his home country, Turner has moved to Paris in search of a more appreciative audience. He finds it in the form of Francis Borler (Francois Cluzet), a bebop aficionado who befriends the expatriate player. Borler soon becomes familiar with Turner's darker side, including his struggles with alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression. Fearing for the musician's life, the fan becomes his caretaker, an arrangement that leads to a brief improvement in Turner's health and fortunes but places great emotional strain upon them both. Director Bertrand Tavernier pays great attention to the visual and aural details of the jazz world, with outstanding musical supervision provided by Herbie Hancock. 'Round Midnight's greatest asset, however, is Gordon's Academy Award-nominated performance, informed by his own life experiences. His naturally fascinating presence combines with the film's obvious love of the music and its milieu to provide what many have hailed as one of the more authentic and affectionate presentations of the jazz world on the silver screen. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, (more)
- 1985
In the early days of cinema, characters were broadly sketched. Villains sported dark circles under their eyes and ingénues wore wide-eyed looks of innocence. Unfortunately, ethnic stereotypes prevailed just as strongly. Especially biased were the portrayals of people of color. The That's Black Entertainment series documents the role of African-Americans in film, from the emergence of race movies to the beginning of talkies. In That's Black Entertainment: Race Movies -- The Early History of Black Cinema, blacks in the infant years of the motion-picture industry are examined. The video also includes three short films starring black actors from the era. ~ Sarah Ing, Rovi
- 1929
This musical is most notable because it is the only feature-film appearance of blues-legend Bessie Smith. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bessie Smith
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