Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sidney J. Furie

Writers:

Chris Clark (screenplay)
Suzanne De Passe (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 October 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Diana Ross IS Billie Holiday

Plot:

The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary Jazz singer, Billie Holiday.

Plot Keywords:

Billie Holiday | Singer | Marriage | Drugs | Drug Addiction

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Diana Ross	...	Billie Holiday
Billy Dee Williams	...	Louis McKay
Richard Pryor	...	Piano Man
James T. Callahan	...	Reg Hanley (as James Callahan)
Paul Hampton	...	Harry
Sid Melton	...	Jerry
Virginia Capers	...	Mama Holiday
Yvonne Fair	...	Yvonne
Isabel Sanford	...	The Madame
Tracee Lyles	...	The Prostitute
Ned Glass	...	The Agent
Milton Selzer	...	The Doctor
Norman Bartold	...	The Detective #1
Clay Tanner	...	The Detective #2
Jester Hairston	...	The Butler

Runtime:

144 min | West Germany:125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14A | Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

KEHE Studios - 133 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Jobete Productions

Trivia:

According to Diana Ross, Richard Pryor personally instructed her on how to behave during the scenes of drug use.

Quotes:

Louis McKay: [offering Billie a $20 bill] You want my arm to fall off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Methadonia (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tain't Nobody's Business

Undoubtedly a Classic!!!

I FINALLY received the DVD of a movie I have loved through the years. While we can all regale each other with stories of Miss Ross' idiosyncrasies, one thing is patently clear: She WORKED this movie and this is the best singing I have EVER heard from her (or since, for that matter and I was a Die-hard Supermes fan!) It is also especially wonderful to see some wonderful African-American treasures like Richard Pryor, Billy Dee, Isabel Sanford, Scatman Scrothers, among others. (I wish I knew Lorraine's name as the quintessential madam who was positively flawless!!!!) The production values are superior and the sound recreated for the DVD was a MUST because the movie is based on music. Listening to Diana sing "The Man I Love" and hear Billy Dee say "You want my arm to fall off?!" is worth the price of admission.

I haven't even had a chance to look at the special features or deleted scenes which I am sure will round out what I consider to be a classic African-American feature.

I HIGHLY recommend!!!