Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Music from the hbo film features original and newly recorded songs strongly associated with the legendary vocalist. Bessie smith always had ambitions to be on the stage as a respected performer. Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. Whatever she did loved, laughed, sang she did it full force. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Queen latifah stars as smith, and supporting roles are played by michael kenneth williams as smiths first husband jack gee. But for hbo s purposes, its a bigtime noisemaker one with the kind of showstopping work that, when they start handing out trophies, isnt likely to leave its.
Start your free trial to watch bessie and other popular tv shows and movies including new releases, classics, hulu originals, and more. Discover how you can enjoy hbo s original series, hit movies, documentaries and more. Bessie smith made 160 records for columbia records in the day, accompanied by many include louie armstrong. But for hbos purposes, its a bigtime noisemaker one with the kind of showstopping work that, when they start handing out trophies, isnt likely to leave its. One of the most successful and influential performers of her era, smith headlined. Chatting with bets clay kane, latifah detailed how she was able to fully capture the essence of legendary blues singer bessie smith for the biopic.
Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues. This movie was a bit milk toast but did have a few vignettes from true stories but really played down. Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv. The movie is a passion project for queen latifah, 45, who first auditioned for the part in 1992. Hbo films has once again offered up a richly produced and designed tvmovie that at times beautifully depicts the wardrobes, music and sights of the day. Browse the full bessie cast and crew credits for actors by character names from the hbo original program. Plans for a bessie film had been floating around since the early 1970s when a reissue. Bessie was an hbo film about bessie smith, a legendary blues singer. That actress and singer is dana elaine owens, who the world knows as queen latifah. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the. Dont expect hbos bessie smith movie to air the details of the freak car accident and tragic death of the blues singer tonight, unless a last minute change has been added. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths.
By the time the swing era was born she was huge and returned to recording exclusively. Bessie smith queen latifah became one of the most popular female recording artists of the 1920s and 1930s as a singer of blues and jazz. Bessie starring queen latifah the queen is heading back to movies once again, and this time she is taking on her most incredible role yet. Bessie had several siblings and after her parents passed away her eldest sister was left to raise the children. Watch hbo on your tv, computer, tablet or mobile phone. Hbo has finally set a date for its bessie smith biopic starring queen latifah the film, which follows americas empress of the blues from her beginning in abject poverty to becoming one of the biggest recording artists of the 1920s, will premiere. The film is directed by dee rees, with a screenplay by rees, christopher cleveland and bettina gilois. The zanucks first brought a project about bessie smith to queen latifah 22 years ago, latifah said today at winter tv press tour 2015. Are you ready to see queen latifah as the empress of the blues. A new hbo adaptation from the director rashid johnson and the playwright suzanlori parks now joins its predecessors. Hbos bessie, premiering saturday on the network, is a flawed drama that nonetheless warrants a look simply because of the bright spotlight it gives the underrated talents of star queen latifah, who does quite easily the best work of her career here. In bessie the empress of the blues finds new audience on hbo. Bessie hbo trailer starring queen latifah hits youtube. Hbo is available through the hbo now streaming app, tv package, or an existing digital subscription.
Dee rees has been clear that she left out that part in the movie because she wanted to focus on bessie smiths heroic life instead. This sexuallycharged, intense look at blues icon bessie smith often feels defiantly episodic, as if cowriterdirector dee rees is. Bessie tv movie 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Starring awardwinning actress and singer queen latifah, bessie focuses on the life of the iconic jazz and blues singer. Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. Bessie is another project hbowatch has brought to everyones attention before the official announcement from hbo. But for hbos purposes, its a bigtime noisemaker one with the kind of showstopping work that, when they start handing out trophies, isnt likely. Bessie journal of american history oxford academic. Download from thousands of titles to watch offline. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Queen latifah to star as bessie smith in hbo biopic. With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t.
Queen latifah bares it all literally and figuratively in bessie a vanity project for her that is a solid portrayal of songstress bessie smith empress of the blues. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees. Queen latifah stars as smith, and supporting roles are played by michael kenneth williams as smiths first. Rent bessie 2015 starring queen latifah and michael k. Bessie starring queen latifah hbo auditions for 2020. Queen latifah is heading to hbo the rapper, actress, and talk show host will star in and exec produce a bessie smith biopic for the premium cable network the telepic revolves around iconic. Queen latifah is set to take on the title role and produce the hbo biopic bessie and casting calls for several roles in this incredible true story will be taking place very soon. Bessie smith was originally from tennessee and became an orphan at a very young age. Theres a new movie poised to hit hbo, and the movie about blues singer bessie smith called bessie stars none other than a modern day superstar who seemed made to take on the role of the socalled empress of the blues. Released 2015, bessie stars queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, khandi alexander, mike epps the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 0 min, and received a. That bessie was finally realized via hbo s deep pockets, promised creative autonomy, and limited premium cable access after many years of false starts as a theatrical release reveals something about the relative state of studio film and television production. Bessie biopic gets release date from hbo black america web. Bessie is an hbo tv film about legendary american blues singer bessie smith queen latifah, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues.
Queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to. The buzz on queen latifahs performance in hbo s upcoming original movie bessie is strong as critics are praising the entertainer for delivering a strong piece of work. The film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today. Hbo go e now a list of 36 titles created 10 mar 2018 films by women a list of 22 titles created 08 feb 2016 recommended a list of 38 titles. Rating is available when the video has been rented.
Queen latifah stars in bessie on hbo the new york times. In the opening minutes of bessie, the hbo biopic about blues legend bessie smith premiering saturday, may 16th, the titular character absorbs the warmth of a single spotlight with an air of. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. An arty but superficial take on native son the atlantic. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and influential musical artists of the 20th century. Queen latifah stars as bessie smith in this vivid portrait of the legendary 20th century blues singer. It is the only movie ever made about bessie so at least it is a step in the right direction. She had always hoped that playing bessie in the film. Bessie music from the hbo film features a combination of historic and contemporary recordings with seven new queen latifah performances including young woman blues, preachin the blues, long old road, down hearted blues, work house blues, and weepin woman blues a duet with vocalist pat bass as well as gimme a pigfoot. Bessie smith hbo movie leaves out car accident, tragic. Hbo released a tiny teaser for bessie, and it looks excellent.
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