St. Louis Blues (1958)

Director:

Allen Reisner

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (writer)
Robert Smith (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

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...

Plot Keywords:

Memphis Tennessee | African American

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

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

W.C. Handy's first successful composition was "Memphis Blues" but, because the producers couldn't obtain the rights to the song, his first successful song was presented in the film as being "Yellow Dog Blues", actually written several years later, after Handy had established himself.

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

Soundtrack:

Chantez Les Bas

Loved it!

I just watched this film after having recorded it with my DVR. I have a 64" TV. Wow!!!! If you can get the opportunity to see this film on a larger screen with a decent sound system, do it. I'll bet a lot of the wonderful aspects of this film are lost on a small screen.

First of all, in my opinion, the story line is just a frame to serve up the songs. Eartha Kitt is unbelievable in this film! She is gorgeous, sexy, absolutely delicious in the divine gowns she wears, has tons of character and personality, and sings like a diva. She played her racy character to the hilt in this and stole the show. Nat King Cole was, as always, smooth as silk on piano and vocals. Then to get the added treat of seeing Pearl Bailey, Mahalia Jackson, Ruby Dee, Cab Calloway and a host of extraordinarily talented blues musicians just made my day. There is even a shot of Nat King Cole gazing in to an open doorway and listening to Ella Fitzgerald!

This is a film in which the talent is so extraordinary, the songs so incredible, that it doesn't really matter whether Nat King Cole was a little shy. You'll be so blown away by the excellent music that you won't care whether the story line is well told or whether it is true - who cares? The opportunity to see this group of musicians is worth every minute of your time. That is, if you really love great blues music and talent.