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St. Louis Blues

  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
683
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
St. Louis Blues (1958)
Official Trailer
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.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
683
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Allen Reisner
  • Writers
    • Ted Sherdeman
    • Robert Smith
  • Stars
    • Nat 'King' Cole
    • Eartha Kitt
    • Cab Calloway
Top credits
  • Director
    • Allen Reisner
  • Writers
    • Ted Sherdeman
    • Robert Smith
  • Stars
    • Nat 'King' Cole
    • Eartha Kitt
    • Cab Calloway
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    St. Louis Blues
    Trailer 1:56
    St. Louis Blues

    Photos

    "Birth of the Blues" Eartha Kitt 1941 Paramount
    Publicity still portrait of American singer and musician Nat King Cole and actress Ruby Dee in the WC Handy musical biographical film 'St. Louis Blues' (Paramount Pictures), Memphis, Tennessee, 1958.
    St. Louis Blues (1958)
    Nat 'King' Cole in St. Louis Blues (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nat 'King' Cole
    Nat 'King' Cole
    • W.C. Handyas W.C. Handy
    Eartha Kitt
    Eartha Kitt
    • Gogo Germaineas Gogo Germaine
    Cab Calloway
    Cab Calloway
    • Bladeas Blade
    Ella Fitzgerald
    Ella Fitzgerald
    • Singeras Singer
    Mahalia Jackson
    Mahalia Jackson
    • Bessie Mayas Bessie May
    Ruby Dee
    Ruby Dee
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    Juano Hernandez
    Juano Hernandez
    • Rev. Charles Handyas Rev. Charles Handy
    Teddy Buckner
    Teddy Buckner
    • Musicianas Musician
    Barney Bigard
    • Musicianas Musician
    George 'Red' Callender
    George 'Red' Callender
    • Musicianas Musician
    Lee Young
    • Musicianas Musician
    George Washington
    George Washington
    • Musicianas Musician
    Billy Preston
    Billy Preston
    • Will Handy as a boyas Will Handy as a boy
    Pearl Bailey
    Pearl Bailey
    • Aunt Hagaras Aunt Hagar
    C. Bakaleinikoff
    C. Bakaleinikoff
    • New York Symphony Conductoras New York Symphony Conductor
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Baldwin
    Bill Baldwin
    • Attorney Mawsonas Attorney Mawson
    • (uncredited)
    Milas G. Clark Jr.
    • Boyas Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Walt Davis
    • Usheras Usher
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Allen Reisner
    • Writers
      • Ted Sherdeman
      • Robert Smith
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra. —Lisa Grable <grable@unity.ncsu.edu>
    • african american
    • memphis tennessee
    • jazz
    • three word title
    • period in title
    • 1 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    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
      Edited into Afro Promo (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Morning Star
      Music by W.C. Handy

      New lyrics by Mack David

      Sung by Nat 'King' Cole

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    A joy to watch and listen to!
    "St Louis Blues", the 1958 biopic of the great W.C Handy, is, though not perfect, very enjoyable to watch and-- more importantly-- listen to.

    Portraying Handy is Nat King Cole, in his only leading role in a feature-length Hollywood film. He sings a few tunes (all fantastically performed, of course) and his acting is even relatively convincing. Also in the cast is Eartha Kitt (whose role I believe would have been better filled by someone like Lena Horne), Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey and even Billy Preston as Handy as a child. Ella Fitzgerald joins the cast, too, but it is only a cameo. Nevertheless, her part is very important; she gives a stellar rendition of "Beale Street Blues", one of the many great W.C Handy tunes featured.

    I would definitely recommend this movie, mostly because of the talent in it-- Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and the rest of the cast's talent and, of course, W.C Handy's talent.

    This perfect blend of lightheartedness, drama and music is a great biopic of one of America's-- and the world's-- most talented songwriters is a must-see for any lover of Handy or Cole, or, such as myself, both.
    helpful•1
    0
    • fredanddeanfan
    • Jul 8, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1958 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Siyah İnciler
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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