IMDb > St. Louis Blues (1958)

St. Louis Blues (1958) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   264 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Allen Reisner
Writers:
Ted Sherdeman (writer)
Robert Smith (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for St. Louis Blues on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 April 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama | Music more
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... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
Singer, Dancer, Movie Star Eartha Kitt Dies At 81
 (From iCelebz. 26 December 2008, 3:24 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The life of W. C. Handy , the growing up and finding success part. more (13 total)

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
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
105 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Nat King Cole's only lead role in a major Hollywood Film. more
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. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Afro Promo (1997) more
Soundtrack:
Saint Louis Blues more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
13 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
The life of W. C. Handy , the growing up and finding success part., 9 February 2002
Author: WILL (wsegen@hotmail.com) from san francisco, usa

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.

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