IMDb > Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Lady Sings the Blues
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Lady Sings the Blues (1972) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   1,263 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Sidney J. Furie
Writers:
Chris Clark (screenplay)
Suzanne De Passe (screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Lady Sings the Blues on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 October 1972 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama | Music more
Tagline:
Diana Ross IS Billie Holiday more
Plot:
The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary Jazz singer, Billie Holiday. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Lost Ross Album To Be Released
 (From WENN. 8 May 2006)

Richard Pryor: 1940-2005
 (From IMDb News. 10 December 2005)

User Comments:
Ross Totally deserved the Oscar over Liza Minelli more (35 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
144 min | West Germany:125 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dorothy Dandridge was to star in the role of Billie Holiday in an earlier proposed film version of the singer's autobiography, but died before the film was made. more
Quotes:
Louis McKay: [offering Billie a $20 bill] You want my arm to fall off. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Boomerang (1992) more
Soundtrack:
Tain't Nobody's Business more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
Ross Totally deserved the Oscar over Liza Minelli, 8 April 1999
Author: Rupert Kinnard (rupegroup1@aol.com) from Portland, Oregon

I would be the first to agree that it was standard fare as far as a musical bio...and Cabaret was a superior film. But Diana Ross' performance was a stunning film debut. This is the kind of overlooked performance that makes it so clear that pure ability is not what the Academy Awards are all about. I tend to think really great acting always sneaks above the voting members scope of being able to truly reccognize great acting.

But anyone who hasn't seen Diana Ross' performance in Lady is in for a treat. To think that she went through so many transitions within the film: from youngster, to a drug addict, to a grand singer...it's a truly great performance.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (35 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Not A Good Movie bbwoof2000
Best choice in a remake of new bio GreenEggandHams
question about a certain scene chalik360-1
Anti-climax at the BAFTA's in 1973 Welch57
Have not seen it. Why the R rating? jhudfan1
hot shot chalik360-1
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