St. Louis Blues

1958
S
1h 45m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

731

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:56

1 Video

5 Photos

Biography Drama Music

The story of W. C. Handy, the undisputed father of the blues.The story of W. C. Handy, the undisputed father of the blues.The story of W. C. Handy, the undisputed father of the blues.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

731

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

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
Early in film, a man tells Handy to meet him "at the corner of Beale and Jackson at 4:00" to give him a job. Beale Street and Jackson Avenue do not intersect. Jackson is not straight, but it's more than a mile between them at their closest point.

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.

Connections
Featured in Afro Promo (1997)

Soundtracks
Morning Star
Music by W.C. Handy
Lyrics by Mack David
Performed by Nat 'King' Cole

User reviews20

Review

Featured review

The life of W. C. Handy , the growing up and finding success part.

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 A collector's item and an historical document.

helpful•18