Jan 14 2008
Bessie Smith: St. Louis Blues
This is Bessie Smith’s only appearance in film. In 1925 she made a hit record of W. C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” with Louis Armstrong on cornet. Handy, with the help of Kenneth W. Adams, wrote a film treatment for the song and RCA Phototone produced this film short starring Bessie with a band featuring James P. Johnson on piano, Thomas Morris and Joe Smith on cornet, and the Hall Johnson Choir. Jimmy Mordecai is the dancer/no good boyfriend.
This clip is over eight minutes long, but I think you will find the time well spent.
The hot jazz band goes into the introduction of Gershwyn’s “Rhapsody In Blue at the end of the dance number - priceless.
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Very nostalgic. They don’t make ‘em like that any more, right? Cliche, but true in this case. Thanks for posting this!
No good boyfriend needs to have a attitude adjustment.
Very good.
Kyle