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St. Louis Blues

  • 1958
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
736
YOUR RATING
St. Louis Blues (1958)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
9 Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

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.

  • Director
    • Allen Reisner
  • Writers
    • Ted Sherdeman
    • Robert Smith
  • Stars
    • Nat 'King' Cole
    • Eartha Kitt
    • Cab Calloway
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    736
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Allen Reisner
    • Writers
      • Ted Sherdeman
      • Robert Smith
    • Stars
      • Nat 'King' Cole
      • Eartha Kitt
      • Cab Calloway
    • 21User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

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

    Photos9

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    Top cast34

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

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    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 reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    "...I got the St. Louis Blues..."

    I really enjoyed this movie. And it was really nice seeing my all-time favorite singer, Mahalia Jackson, use her acting skills. Also, Pearl Bailey was very funny in this film- the protective aunt, as I would call her. Eartha Kitt was great and very believable- she really played the part! Nat "King" Cole, to me, still seemed a little shy on camera, but I was told that he was a shy individual. Young Billy Preston did very well with his acting and he "tore up" that organ- as he is already known for doing. There just aren't any words that I can use to describe my feelings for this video, except for it's awesome, great, and fantastic!

    I give it an A+++
    • ol_yng_man
    • Jun 5, 2004
    • Permalink

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    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(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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