St. Louis Blues (1958)

Director:

Allen Reisner

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (writer)
Robert Smith (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Memphis Tennessee | African American

Cast

Nat 'King' Cole	...	W.C. Handy
Eartha Kitt	...	Gogo Germaine
Cab Calloway	...	Blade
Ella Fitzgerald	...	Singer
Mahalia Jackson	...	Bessie May
Ruby Dee	...	Elizabeth
Juano Hernandez	...	Rev. Charles Handy
Teddy Buckner	...	Musician
Barney Bigard	...	Musician
George 'Red' Callender	...	Musician
Lee Young	...	Musician
George Washington	...	Musician
Billy Preston	...	Will Handy as a boy
Pearl Bailey	...	Aunt Hagar

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Paramount Pictures

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:

Errors in geography: Late in the movie, Gogo runs into Elizabeth and explains she was just passing through St. Louis. The Hanleys live in Memphis.

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.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

Soundtrack:

Chantez Les Bas

one of the best movies I have ever seen, the whole family enjoyed it

Black casted movies are a rarity in and of themselves, but one with such mega stars of old was so very uplifting! The movie was made by blacks for blacks and had a plot, story-line and theme that blacks can indeed relate to with pride dignity and a sense of self-esteem. The movie is one that you can watch over and over again and get something more out of it each and every time. It deals with human weaknesses and pitfalls such as are common to man; but finishes on a high note of strength and victory because of faith in and love for God and perseverance.