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Queen of the Blues! Where the blues tell a tale of the heart!
In her only known film appearance, legendary blues singer Bessie Smith stars in this all-black cast short where she witnesses her gambler lover Jimmy's betrayal with a younger woman. Hurt and alone, Bessie delivers a powerful rendition of "The St. Louis Blues" in a speakeasy setting, accompanied by a chorus and dancers. This 16-minute film, envisioned by composer W.C. Handy to visually showcase his iconic song, captures Bessie Smith's soulful performance and the emotional depth of the blues genre during the prohibition era. Original title: St. Louis Blues 1929 Director and writer: Dudley Murphy Stars: Bessie Smith, Jimmy Mordecai, Isabel Washington Genres: Short, Drama, Music 00:00 Short Film. 00:58 High-stakes dice game confrontation with racial undertones and power dynamics unfolds in a gritty setting. 01:50 Negotiation for entry into the game with a mix of intimidation and persuasion. 02:02 Implicit warnings and power plays exchanged amidst a desire for profit and recognition. 04:53 Conflict arises between characters over a woman's presence in a room, leading to a confrontation. One character demands the other to move out, leading to a standoff. 05:28 Jimmy refuses to leave despite the woman's pleas, causing tension. 09:20 Soulful musical performance. 14:46 Heartfelt applause.
