Bessie

Survival began with a song

Duration: 107 min
Release date: 2015-05-16
IMDB

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

Drama Music TV Movie

Bessie

Videos

Bessie Bessie

Watch Providers

HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel

Casting arrow_drop_down

Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
as Bessie Smith
Mo'Nique
Mo'Nique
as Ma Rainey
Mike Epps
Mike Epps
as Richard
Tika Sumpter
Tika Sumpter
as Lucille
Michael Kenneth Williams
Michael Kenneth Williams
as Jack Gee
Charles S. Dutton
Charles S. Dutton
as William 'Pa' Rainey
Bryan Greenberg
Bryan Greenberg
as John Hammond
Oliver Platt
Oliver Platt
as Carl Van Vechten
Khandi Alexander
Khandi Alexander
as Viola
Tory Kittles
Tory Kittles
as Clarence
Kamryn Johnson
Kamryn Johnson
as Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney
Rikki McKinney
as Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman
Alan T. Coleman
as Stagehand
Clay Chappell
Clay Chappell
as '81' Theatre Owner
Sharan C. Mansfield
Sharan C. Mansfield
as Miss Taylor
Neko Parham
Neko Parham
as Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés
Onira Tarés
as Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis
Jhoni Davis
as Chorus Girl
Jim R. Coleman
Jim R. Coleman
as Host
Melissa Youngblood
Melissa Youngblood
as Theatergoer
Jennifer Sears
Jennifer Sears
as Ma's Main Girl
Briana Starks
Briana Starks
as Ma's Dancer
Todd Allen Durkin
Todd Allen Durkin
as Nightclub Manager
Crystal Lee Brown
Crystal Lee Brown
as Bessie's Dancer
Hunter Womack
Hunter Womack
as Roadie
Christopher Harvey
Christopher Harvey
as Roadie
Tia Hendricks
Tia Hendricks
as Doreen Dupree
Marie Burke
Marie Burke
as Etta Johnson
Terence Rosemore
Terence Rosemore
as Detroit Theater Manager
Karri Mack
Karri Mack
as Wild Child
Kaden Washington Lewis
Kaden Washington Lewis
as Swarm Boy
L. Warren Young
L. Warren Young
as Sharkish Man
Saundra Dunson-Franks
Saundra Dunson-Franks
as Hostess
Bralyn Stokes
Bralyn Stokes
as Harry Herbert Pace
Cj Sykes
Cj Sykes
as Black Swan Executive
Adebukola Bodunrin
Adebukola Bodunrin
as Black Swan Receptionist
Joe Knezevich
Joe Knezevich
as Frank Walker
Troy Faruk
Troy Faruk
as Brave Man
David Paul Lord
David Paul Lord
as Klansman
Chris Walters
Chris Walters
as Doorman
Jessejames Locorriere
Jessejames Locorriere
as Vanity Fair Editor
Whitney Goin
Whitney Goin
as Fania Van Vechten
Jeremie Harris
Jeremie Harris
as Langston Hughes
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
as Gertrude
Sylvester Ambrose James II
Sylvester Ambrose James II
as Jack Gee Jr.
Levi Erik
Levi Erik
as Benny Goodman
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
as Gangster
Tim McAdams
Tim McAdams
as Shady Guy
Kenny Banks Jr.
Kenny Banks Jr.
as Bessie's Band Member
Michael Burton
Michael Burton
as Bessie's Band Member
Roderick Harris
Roderick Harris
as Bessie's Band Member
John A. Harvey
John A. Harvey
as Bessie's Band Member
Reggie Hines
Reggie Hines
as Bessie's Band Member
Kevin Kendrick
Kevin Kendrick
as Bessie's Band Member
Marcus Lewis
Marcus Lewis
as Bessie's Band Member
Kenneth Murray Jr.
Kenneth Murray Jr.
as Bessie's Band Member
Kwame Paige
Kwame Paige
as Bessie's Band Member
Jason Passmore
Jason Passmore
as Bessie's Band Member
Daniel Saintil
Daniel Saintil
as Bessie's Band Member
Craig Shaw
Craig Shaw
as Bessie's Band Member
Don C. Sherow
Don C. Sherow
as Bessie's Band Member
Dashiel Smith
Dashiel Smith
as Bessie's Band Member
Eric Solomon
Eric Solomon
as Bessie's Band Member
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.
as Bessie's Band Member
Teddy White
Teddy White
as Bessie's Band Member
Wilbert Williams
Wilbert Williams
as Bessie's Band Member
Brandon Boone
Brandon Boone
as Ma's Band Member
Robert Boone
Robert Boone
as Ma's Band Member
Daniel Terence Harper
Daniel Terence Harper
as Ma's Band Member
Anton Harris
Anton Harris
as Ma's Band Member
Jody Mayfield
Jody Mayfield
as Ma's Band Member
Derrick B. White
Derrick B. White
as Ma's Band Member
Edward Wright
Edward Wright
as Ma's Band Member
Jonathan Bryant
Jonathan Bryant
as Dancer
Heather Bland
Heather Bland
as Dancer
Raquiah Carter
Raquiah Carter
as Dancer
Lauren Debrick
Lauren Debrick
as Dancer
Desiree Dixon
Desiree Dixon
as Dancer
Anthony Hart
Anthony Hart
as Dancer
Nia Lancelin
Nia Lancelin
as Dancer
Keshia McNeal
Keshia McNeal
as Dancer
Samara Michelle
Samara Michelle
as Dancer
LaVaughn Morton
LaVaughn Morton
as Dancer
Tiffany Murray
Tiffany Murray
as Dancer
Ashley Neal
Ashley Neal
as Dancer
Tiffany Norris
Tiffany Norris
as Dancer
Christopher L. Plunkett
Christopher L. Plunkett
as Dancer
Stephan Reynolds
Stephan Reynolds
as Dancer
Nateli Ruiz
Nateli Ruiz
as Dancer
Primas Leon Stanley
Primas Leon Stanley
as Dancer
Brentney Stephens
Brentney Stephens
as Dancer
Dacia Stinson
Dacia Stinson
as Dancer
Fred Swinton
Fred Swinton
as Dancer
Sheerod Tate
Sheerod Tate
as Dancer
Quiantae Thomas
Quiantae Thomas
as Dancer
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson
as Dancer
Kendre White
Kendre White
as Dancer
Selah Avery
Selah Avery
as Background Extra (uncredited)
Perry Ball
Perry Ball
as Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
Qualen Bradley
Qualen Bradley
as Stage Crew (uncredited)
Alkoya Brunson
Alkoya Brunson
as Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
Jeffery James Bucchino
Jeffery James Bucchino
as Doorman (uncredited)
Judy McGee Burley
Judy McGee Burley
as Extra (uncredited)
Jess Marie Carr
Jess Marie Carr
as Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
Jameson Jamey Copeland
Jameson Jamey Copeland
as Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
Taurus Davis
Taurus Davis
as Extra (uncredited)
Dino Demitri
Dino Demitri
as KKK Driver (uncredited)
Derrick Dee
Derrick Dee
as Bodyguard (uncredited)
Shannon Edwards
Shannon Edwards
as Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
Tyrone Emanuel
Tyrone Emanuel
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Samuel Lee Fudge
Samuel Lee Fudge
as Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
Adella Gautier
Adella Gautier
as Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
Curtis Gordon
Curtis Gordon
as Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
Montice Harmon
Montice Harmon
as Party Goer (uncredited)
Rob Hays
Rob Hays
as Server (uncredited)
Sarah Turner Holland
Sarah Turner Holland
as Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Damita Jane Howard
Damita Jane Howard
as Jack's Lover (uncredited)
Geoffrey Howard
Geoffrey Howard
as Poker Player (uncredited)
Charlie Johnson
Charlie Johnson
as Party Goer (uncredited)
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
as Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Andre Lamar
Andre Lamar
as Cheering Fan (uncredited)
Trey McGriff
Trey McGriff
as Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lanier McKinney
Lanier McKinney
as Dancer (uncredited)
John Merical
John Merical
as VIP Guest (uncredited)
Dan Michael
Dan Michael
as Theater Goer (uncredited)
Letecia Reeder
Letecia Reeder
as Patron (uncredited)
Swift Rice
Swift Rice
as Stage Hand (uncredited)
Darrell L. Shuler
Darrell L. Shuler
as Club Goer (uncredited)
Alexis Silvestre
Alexis Silvestre
as Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Nicole Spiezio
Nicole Spiezio
as Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
Dorothea Syleos
Dorothea Syleos
as Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Tray Williams
Tray Williams
as Stage Crew (uncredited)
arrow_drop_down

Crew arrow_drop_down

Recomendation Films

  • Crossroads
  • A Perfect Ending
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
  • Hounddog
  • Cadillac Records
  • Camp Belvidere
  • Elena Undone
  • Am I OK?
  • Step Up All In
  • Below Her Mouth
  • Moxie
  • All About Nina
  • Step Up
  • My Policeman
  • The World Unseen
  • Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
  • Love Don't Co$t a Thing
  • Judy & Punch
  • Broken English

Similar Films

  • Transamerica
  • The Diary of a Teenage Girl
  • Brasslands
  • Hotel Atlântico
  • 신의 선물
  • O vara foarte instabila
  • Małe stłuczki
  • Despair
  • Speechless
  • Tillsammans
  • Little Miss Sunshine
  • You Can Play
  • The Legend of Scotty Watts
  • Cynthia
  • Switch
  • Desert Hearts
  • Strange Days
  • Bollywood/Hollywood

NextFilm 2026