Bessie

Bessie (2015)

Survival began with a song

  • Genre: Drama, Music, TV Movie
  • Release Date: 2015-05-16
  • User Rating: 6.408/10 from 121 ratings
  • Runtime: 1h 47min
  • Language: English
  • Production Company: The Zanuck Company
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Director: Dee Rees
star 6.408/10
From 121 Ratings

Summary

The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.

Bessie Trailer

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  • Queen Latifah

    as Bessie Smith

  • Kamryn Johnson

    as Young Bessie

  • Rikki McKinney

    as Chorus Guy

  • Alan T. Coleman

    as Stagehand

  • Tory Kittles

    as Clarence

  • Clay Chappell

    as '81' Theatre Owner

  • Tika Sumpter

    as Lucille

  • Sharan C. Mansfield

    as Miss Taylor

  • Neko Parham

    as Rehearsal Director

  • Onira Tarés

    as Chorus Girl

  • Jhoni Davis

    as Chorus Girl

  • Jim R. Coleman

    as Host

  • Melissa Youngblood

    as Theatergoer

  • Mo'Nique

    as Ma Rainey

  • Jennifer Sears

    as Ma's Main Girl

  • Charles S. Dutton

    as William 'Pa' Rainey

  • Briana Starks

    as Ma's Dancer

  • Todd Allen Durkin

    as Nightclub Manager

  • Crystal Lee Brown

    as Bessie's Dancer

  • Hunter Womack

    as Roadie

  • Christopher Harvey

    as Roadie

  • Tia Hendricks

    as Doreen Dupree

  • Marie Burke

    as Etta Johnson

  • Michael Kenneth Williams

    as Jack Gee

  • Terence Rosemore

    as Detroit Theater Manager

  • Karri Mack

    as Wild Child

  • Kaden Washington Lewis

    as Swarm Boy

  • Khandi Alexander

    as Viola

  • L. Warren Young

    as Sharkish Man

  • Saundra Dunson-Franks

    as Hostess

  • Bralyn Stokes

    as Harry Herbert Pace

  • Cj Sykes

    as Black Swan Executive

  • Adebukola Bodunrin

    as Black Swan Receptionist

  • Joe Knezevich

    as Frank Walker

  • Mike Epps

    as Richard

  • Troy Faruk

    as Brave Man

  • David Paul Lord

    as Klansman

  • Chris Walters

    as Doorman

  • Jessejames Locorriere

    as Vanity Fair Editor

  • Oliver Platt

    as Carl Van Vechten

  • Whitney Goin

    as Fania Van Vechten

  • Jeremie Harris

    as Langston Hughes

  • Chantelle Rose Mussenden

    as Gertrude

  • Sylvester Ambrose James II

    as Jack Gee Jr.

  • Bryan Greenberg

    as John Hammond

  • Levi Erik

    as Benny Goodman

  • Gerard 'Gus' Williams

    as Gangster

  • Tim McAdams

    as Shady Guy

  • Kenny Banks Jr.

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Michael Burton

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Roderick Harris

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • John A. Harvey

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Reggie Hines

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Kevin Kendrick

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Marcus Lewis

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Kenneth Murray Jr.

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Kwame Paige

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Jason Passmore

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Daniel Saintil

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Craig Shaw

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Don C. Sherow

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Dashiel Smith

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Eric Solomon

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Teddy White

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Wilbert Williams

    as Bessie's Band Member

  • Brandon Boone

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Robert Boone

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Daniel Terence Harper

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Anton Harris

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Jody Mayfield

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Derrick B. White

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Edward Wright

    as Ma's Band Member

  • Jonathan Bryant

    as Dancer

  • Heather Bland

    as Dancer

  • Raquiah Carter

    as Dancer

  • Lauren Debrick

    as Dancer

  • Desiree Dixon

    as Dancer

  • Anthony Hart

    as Dancer

  • Nia Lancelin

    as Dancer

  • Keshia McNeal

    as Dancer

  • Samara Michelle

    as Dancer

  • LaVaughn Morton

    as Dancer

  • Tiffany Murray

    as Dancer

  • Ashley Neal

    as Dancer

  • Tiffany Norris

    as Dancer

  • Christopher L. Plunkett

    as Dancer

  • Stephan Reynolds

    as Dancer

  • Nateli Ruiz

    as Dancer

  • Primas Leon Stanley

    as Dancer

  • Brentney Stephens

    as Dancer

  • Dacia Stinson

    as Dancer

  • Fred Swinton

    as Dancer

  • Sheerod Tate

    as Dancer

  • Quiantae Thomas

    as Dancer

  • Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

    as Dancer

  • Kendre White

    as Dancer

  • Selah Avery

    as Background Extra (uncredited)

  • Perry Ball

    as Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

  • Qualen Bradley

    as Stage Crew (uncredited)

  • Alkoya Brunson

    as Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

  • Jeffery James Bucchino

    as Doorman (uncredited)

  • Judy McGee Burley

    as Extra (uncredited)

  • Jess Marie Carr

    as Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

  • Jameson Jamey Copeland

    as Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

  • Taurus Davis

    as Extra (uncredited)

  • Dino Demitri

    as KKK Driver (uncredited)

  • Derrick Dee

    as Bodyguard (uncredited)

  • Shannon Edwards

    as Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

  • Tyrone Emanuel

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

  • Samuel Lee Fudge

    as Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

  • Adella Gautier

    as Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

  • Curtis Gordon

    as Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

  • Jermaine Salute Green

    as Graveyard Worker (uncredited)

  • Montice Harmon

    as Party Goer (uncredited)

  • Roger A. Harrison

    as Theater Goer (uncredited)

  • Rob Hays

    as Server (uncredited)

  • Sarah Turner Holland

    as Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

  • Damita Jane Howard

    as Jack's Lover (uncredited)

  • Geoffrey Howard

    as Poker Player (uncredited)

  • Charlie Johnson

    as Party Goer (uncredited)

  • Noah Hudson Killingbeck

    as Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

  • Andre Lamar

    as Cheering Fan (uncredited)

  • Trey McGriff

    as Pedestrian (uncredited)

  • Lanier McKinney

    as Dancer (uncredited)

  • John Merical

    as VIP Guest (uncredited)

  • Dan Michael

    as Theater Goer (uncredited)

  • Letecia Reeder

    as Patron (uncredited)

  • Swift Rice

    as Stage Hand (uncredited)

  • Darrell L. Shuler

    as Club Goer (uncredited)

  • Alexis Silvestre

    as Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

  • Nicole Spiezio

    as Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

  • Dorothea Syleos

    as Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

  • Tray Williams

    as Stage Crew (uncredited)
Production Queen Latifah Executive Producer
Production Lili Fini Zanuck Executive Producer
Costume & Make-Up Michael T. Boyd Costume Design
Production Shelby Stone Executive Producer
Production Billy Hopkins Casting
Art Drew Monahan Art Direction
Production Randi Michel Executive Producer
Sound Rachel Portman Original Music Composer
Editing Brian A. Kates Editor
Production Shakim Compere Executive Producer
Production Hallie Foote Co-Executive Producer
Art Traci Kirshbaum Set Decoration
Production Richard D. Zanuck Executive Producer
Production Ron Schmidt Producer
Art Clark Hunter Production Design
Directing Dee Rees Director
Writing Bettina Gilois Screenplay
Writing Horton Foote Story
Writing Dee Rees Story
Writing Dee Rees Screenplay
Camera Jeffrey Jur Director of Photography
Writing Christopher Cleveland Screenplay
Production Ron Schmidt Unit Production Manager
Directing Michael J. Moore First Assistant Director
Directing Basti Van Der Woude Second Assistant Director
Crew Anderson Martin Stunt Coordinator
Directing Brooke Satrazemis Script Supervisor

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