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St. Louis Blues (1958)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
7 April 1958 (USA)
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Tagline:
The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!
Plot:
Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church...
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User Comments:
The life of W. C. Handy , the growing up and finding success part.
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Nat 'King' Cole | ... | W.C. Handy | |
| Eartha Kitt | ... | Gogo Germaine | |
| Cab Calloway | ... | Blade | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | ... | Singer | |
| Mahalia Jackson | ... | Bessie May | |
| Ruby Dee | ... | Elizabeth | |
| Juano Hernandez | ... | Rev. Charles Handy | |
| Teddy Buckner | ... | Musician | |
| Barney Bigard | ... | Musician | |
| George 'Red' Callender | ... | Musician | |
| Lee Young | ... | Musician | |
| George Washington | ... | Musician | |
| Billy Preston | ... | Will Handy as a boy | |
| Pearl Bailey | ... | Aunt Hagar |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Nat King Cole's only lead role in a major Hollywood Film.
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Goofs:
Errors in geography: Late in the movie, Gogo runs into Elizabeth and explains she was just passing through St. Louis. The Hanleys live in Memphis.
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Quotes:
Gogo Germaine:
That's right, Reverend. Stick to your guns. You stick to them because, after all, prejudice is a time saver.
Rev. Charles Handy: I... I beg your pardon?
Gogo Germaine: Well, a busy man like you: You can form an opinion without wasting time bothering about facts.
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Rev. Charles Handy: I... I beg your pardon?
Gogo Germaine: Well, a busy man like you: You can form an opinion without wasting time bothering about facts.
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Movie Connections:
Edited into Afro Promo (1997)
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Soundtrack:
Saint Louis Blues
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (13 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for St. Louis Blues (1958)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| When will TMC play this again? | gs-web |
| Is it on DVD? | tarheel370 |
| When does this come on again? | 1lafayette |
| St. Louis Blues | natalyn-jones |
Recommendations
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| Satchmo the Great | Walk the Line | Songcatcher | Lackawanna Blues | Ray |
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It's incredible to see all this talent in one place. It's too bad that afro-americans were not supported commercially in the 50's, this film then could have been easy to find. As it is, the big A doesn't carry (or even mention) it. The performances of eartha kitt and nat cole are pretty subdued, for the period of the piece. But ella fitzgerald swings nicely and pearl bailey has a good moment. As for over all film quality, it's a bit stiff ( e.g., nat cole dropping his cane and falling to his kness against the screen door mimics lou pinela tring to convince an umpire he touched home plate), probably a bit more from direction than lack of talent, and the plot , trite. Fortunately, it doesn't dwell very long on the angst between slices of musical venue. A collector's item and an historical document.