Country
Netherlands
Date
May 16, 2015
Certification
12
Survival began with a song
1h 47min
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Oliver Platt | Carl Van Vechten |
| Khandi Alexander | Viola |
| Tory Kittles | Clarence |
| Kamryn Johnson | Young Bessie |
| Rikki McKinney | Chorus Guy |
| Alan T. Coleman | Stagehand |
| Clay Chappell | '81' Theatre Owner |
| Sharan C. Mansfield | Miss Taylor |
| Neko Parham | Rehearsal Director |
| Onira Tarés | Chorus Girl |
| Jhoni Davis | Chorus Girl |
| Jim R. Coleman | Host |
| Melissa Youngblood | Theatergoer |
| Jennifer Sears | Ma's Main Girl |
| Briana Starks | Ma's Dancer |
| Todd Allen Durkin | Nightclub Manager |
| Crystal Lee Brown | Bessie's Dancer |
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| Hunter Womack | Roadie |
| Christopher Harvey | Roadie |
| Tia Hendricks | Doreen Dupree |
| Marie Burke | Etta Johnson |
| Terence Rosemore | Detroit Theater Manager |
| Karri Mack | Wild Child |
| Kaden Washington Lewis | Swarm Boy |
| L. Warren Young | Sharkish Man |
| Saundra Dunson-Franks | Hostess |
| Bralyn Stokes | Harry Herbert Pace |
| Cj Sykes | Black Swan Executive |
| Adebukola Bodunrin | Black Swan Receptionist |
| Joe Knezevich | Frank Walker |
| Troy Faruk | Brave Man |
| David Paul Lord | Klansman |
| Chris Walters | Doorman |
| Jessejames Locorriere | Vanity Fair Editor |
| Whitney Goin | Fania Van Vechten |
| Jeremie Harris | Langston Hughes |
| Chantelle Rose Mussenden | Gertrude |
| Sylvester Ambrose James II | Jack Gee Jr. |
| Levi Erik | Benny Goodman |
| Gerard 'Gus' Williams | Gangster |
| Tim McAdams | Shady Guy |
| Kenny Banks Jr. | Bessie's Band Member |
| Michael Burton | Bessie's Band Member |
| Roderick Harris | Bessie's Band Member |
| John A. Harvey | Bessie's Band Member |
| Reggie Hines | Bessie's Band Member |
| Kevin Kendrick | Bessie's Band Member |
| Marcus Lewis | Bessie's Band Member |
| Kenneth Murray Jr. | Bessie's Band Member |
| Kwame Paige | Bessie's Band Member |
| Jason Passmore | Bessie's Band Member |
| Daniel Saintil | Bessie's Band Member |
| Craig Shaw | Bessie's Band Member |
| Don C. Sherow | Bessie's Band Member |
| Dashiel Smith | Bessie's Band Member |
| Eric Solomon | Bessie's Band Member |
| Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr. | Bessie's Band Member |
| Teddy White | Bessie's Band Member |
| Wilbert Williams | Bessie's Band Member |
| Brandon Boone | Ma's Band Member |
| Robert Boone | Ma's Band Member |
| Daniel Terence Harper | Ma's Band Member |
| Anton Harris | Ma's Band Member |
| Jody Mayfield | Ma's Band Member |
| Derrick B. White | Ma's Band Member |
| Edward Wright | Ma's Band Member |
| Jonathan Bryant | Dancer |
| Heather Bland | Dancer |
| Raquiah Carter | Dancer |
| Lauren Debrick | Dancer |
| Desiree Dixon | Dancer |
| Anthony Hart | Dancer |
| Nia Lancelin | Dancer |
| Keshia McNeal | Dancer |
| Samara Michelle | Dancer |
| LaVaughn Morton | Dancer |
| Tiffany Murray | Dancer |
| Ashley Neal | Dancer |
| Tiffany Norris | Dancer |
| Christopher L. Plunkett | Dancer |
| Stephan Reynolds | Dancer |
| Nateli Ruiz | Dancer |
| Primas Leon Stanley | Dancer |
| Brentney Stephens | Dancer |
| Dacia Stinson | Dancer |
| Fred Swinton | Dancer |
| Sheerod Tate | Dancer |
| Quiantae Thomas | Dancer |
| Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson | Dancer |
| Kendre White | Dancer |
| Selah Avery | Background Extra (uncredited) |
| Perry Ball | Railroad Passenger (uncredited) |
| Qualen Bradley | Stage Crew (uncredited) |
| Alkoya Brunson | Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited) |
| Jeffery James Bucchino | Doorman (uncredited) |
| Judy McGee Burley | Extra (uncredited) |
| Jess Marie Carr | Ophelia Franklin (uncredited) |
| Jameson Jamey Copeland | Upscale Party Goer (uncredited) |
| Taurus Davis | Extra (uncredited) |
| Dino Demitri | KKK Driver (uncredited) |
| Derrick Dee | Bodyguard (uncredited) |
| Shannon Edwards | Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Tyrone Emanuel | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Samuel Lee Fudge | Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited) |
| Adella Gautier | Neighbor #2 (uncredited) |
| Curtis Gordon | Train Passenger #2 (uncredited) |
| Montice Harmon | Party Goer (uncredited) |
| Rob Hays | Server (uncredited) |
| Sarah Turner Holland | Train Passenger #1 (uncredited) |
| Damita Jane Howard | Jack's Lover (uncredited) |
| Geoffrey Howard | Poker Player (uncredited) |
| Charlie Johnson | Party Goer (uncredited) |
| Noah Hudson Killingbeck | Neighborhood Kid (uncredited) |
| Andre Lamar | Cheering Fan (uncredited) |
| Trey McGriff | Pedestrian (uncredited) |
| Lanier McKinney | Dancer (uncredited) |
| John Merical | VIP Guest (uncredited) |
| Dan Michael | Theater Goer (uncredited) |
| Letecia Reeder | Patron (uncredited) |
| Swift Rice | Stage Hand (uncredited) |
| Darrell L. Shuler | Club Goer (uncredited) |
| Alexis Silvestre | Pretzel Guy (uncredited) |
| Nicole Spiezio | Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited) |
| Dorothea Syleos | Switchboard Operator (uncredited) |
| Tray Williams | Stage Crew (uncredited) |
Genres
DramaMusicTV Movie
Technical details
| Dettaglio | Valore |
|---|---|
| Titolo originale | Bessie |
| Lingua originale | English (EN) |
| Lingue parlate | English |
| Paesi di produzione | United States of America |
| Stato | Released |
| Compagnie di produzione | The Zanuck Company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, HBO Films |
| Sito ufficiale | hbo.com |
| Data di uscita | 16 maggio 2015 |
| Exec. Producer | Richard D. Zanuck, Shakim Compere, Randi Michel, Queen Latifah, Lili Fini Zanuck, Shelby Stone, Hallie Foote |
| Producer | Ron Schmidt |
| Writer | Dee Rees, Bettina Gilois, Horton Foote, Christopher Cleveland |
| Casting | Billy Hopkins |
| Editors | Brian A. Kates |
| Cinematography | Jeffrey Jur |
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| Asst. Directors | Michael J. Moore, Basti Van Der Woude, Dee Rees, Brooke Satrazemis |
| Camera Operators | Jeffrey Jur |
| Add. Photography | Jeffrey Jur |
| Production Design | Clark Hunter, Drew Monahan, Traci Kirshbaum |
| Art Direction | Drew Monahan, Traci Kirshbaum, Clark Hunter |
| Set Decoration | Traci Kirshbaum, Drew Monahan, Clark Hunter |
| Stunts | Anderson Martin |
| Composer | Rachel Portman |
| Sound | Rachel Portman |
| Costume Design | Michael T. Boyd, Debi Young |
| Makeup | Michael T. Boyd, Debi Young |
| Hairstyling | Michael T. Boyd, Debi Young |
Release dates
Limited release
Theatrical release
Country
United States
Date
May 16, 2015
Digital
Country
Romania
Date
May 16, 2015
Certification
18
Country
United Kingdom
Date
May 16, 2015
Certification
15
Country
Poland
Date
Oct 21, 2015
Certification
16
Country
Japan
Date
Dec 23, 2015
Certification
R15+
TV
Country
Spain
Date
Jul 01, 2015
Country
Germany
Date
Jul 10, 2015
Certification
16
Country
Hungary
Date
Aug 02, 2015
Certification
16
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