Watch Now
Download
Bessie

Bessie

Survival began with a song
May 16, 20151h 47minUS
6.4
121 votes

Synopsis

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

TitleBessie
RealesedMay 16, 2015
WriterBettina Gilois
DirectorDee Rees
CountryUnited States of America
CompaniesThe Zanuck Company
Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith
Kamryn Johnson

Kamryn Johnson

Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney

Rikki McKinney

Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman

Alan T. Coleman

Stagehand
Tory Kittles

Tory Kittles

Clarence
Clay Chappell

Clay Chappell

'81' Theatre Owner
Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter

Lucille
Sharan C. Mansfield

Sharan C. Mansfield

Miss Taylor
Neko Parham

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl
Jim R. Coleman

Jim R. Coleman

Host
Melissa Youngblood

Melissa Youngblood

Theatergoer
Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey
Jennifer Sears

Jennifer Sears

Ma's Main Girl
Charles S. Dutton

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey
Briana Starks

Briana Starks

Ma's Dancer
Todd Allen Durkin

Todd Allen Durkin

Nightclub Manager
Crystal Lee Brown

Crystal Lee Brown

Bessie's Dancer
Hunter Womack

Hunter Womack

Roadie
Christopher Harvey

Christopher Harvey

Roadie
Tia Hendricks

Tia Hendricks

Doreen Dupree
Marie Burke

Marie Burke

Etta Johnson
Michael Kenneth Williams

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee
Terence Rosemore

Terence Rosemore

Detroit Theater Manager
Karri Mack

Karri Mack

Wild Child
Kaden Washington Lewis

Kaden Washington Lewis

Swarm Boy
Khandi Alexander

Khandi Alexander

Viola
L. Warren Young

L. Warren Young

Sharkish Man
Saundra Dunson-Franks

Saundra Dunson-Franks

Hostess
Bralyn Stokes

Bralyn Stokes

Harry Herbert Pace
Cj Sykes

Cj Sykes

Black Swan Executive
Adebukola Bodunrin

Adebukola Bodunrin

Black Swan Receptionist
Joe Knezevich

Joe Knezevich

Frank Walker
Mike Epps

Mike Epps

Richard
Troy Faruk

Troy Faruk

Brave Man
David Paul Lord

David Paul Lord

Klansman
Chris Walters

Chris Walters

Doorman
Jessejames Locorriere

Jessejames Locorriere

Vanity Fair Editor
Oliver Platt

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten
Whitney Goin

Whitney Goin

Fania Van Vechten
Jeremie Harris

Jeremie Harris

Langston Hughes
Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Gertrude
Sylvester Ambrose James II

Sylvester Ambrose James II

Jack Gee Jr.
Bryan Greenberg

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond
Levi Erik

Levi Erik

Benny Goodman
Gerard 'Gus' Williams

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

Gangster
Tim McAdams

Tim McAdams

Shady Guy
Kenny Banks Jr.

Kenny Banks Jr.

Bessie's Band Member
Michael Burton

Michael Burton

Bessie's Band Member
Roderick Harris

Roderick Harris

Bessie's Band Member
John A. Harvey

John A. Harvey

Bessie's Band Member
Reggie Hines

Reggie Hines

Bessie's Band Member
Kevin Kendrick

Kevin Kendrick

Bessie's Band Member
Marcus Lewis

Marcus Lewis

Bessie's Band Member
Kenneth Murray Jr.

Kenneth Murray Jr.

Bessie's Band Member
Kwame Paige

Kwame Paige

Bessie's Band Member
Jason Passmore

Jason Passmore

Bessie's Band Member
Daniel Saintil

Daniel Saintil

Bessie's Band Member
Craig Shaw

Craig Shaw

Bessie's Band Member
Don C. Sherow

Don C. Sherow

Bessie's Band Member
Dashiel Smith

Dashiel Smith

Bessie's Band Member
Eric Solomon

Eric Solomon

Bessie's Band Member
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

Bessie's Band Member
Teddy White

Teddy White

Bessie's Band Member
Wilbert Williams

Wilbert Williams

Bessie's Band Member
Brandon Boone

Brandon Boone

Ma's Band Member
Robert Boone

Robert Boone

Ma's Band Member
Daniel Terence Harper

Daniel Terence Harper

Ma's Band Member
Anton Harris

Anton Harris

Ma's Band Member
Jody Mayfield

Jody Mayfield

Ma's Band Member
Derrick B. White

Derrick B. White

Ma's Band Member
Edward Wright

Edward Wright

Ma's Band Member
Jonathan Bryant

Jonathan Bryant

Dancer
Heather Bland

Heather Bland

Dancer
Raquiah Carter

Raquiah Carter

Dancer
Lauren Debrick

Lauren Debrick

Dancer
Desiree Dixon

Desiree Dixon

Dancer
Anthony Hart

Anthony Hart

Dancer
Nia Lancelin

Nia Lancelin

Dancer
Keshia McNeal

Keshia McNeal

Dancer
Samara Michelle

Samara Michelle

Dancer
LaVaughn Morton

LaVaughn Morton

Dancer
Tiffany Murray

Tiffany Murray

Dancer
Ashley Neal

Ashley Neal

Dancer
Tiffany Norris

Tiffany Norris

Dancer
Christopher L. Plunkett

Christopher L. Plunkett

Dancer
Stephan Reynolds

Stephan Reynolds

Dancer
Nateli Ruiz

Nateli Ruiz

Dancer
Primas Leon Stanley

Primas Leon Stanley

Dancer
Brentney Stephens

Brentney Stephens

Dancer
Dacia Stinson

Dacia Stinson

Dancer
Fred Swinton

Fred Swinton

Dancer
Sheerod Tate

Sheerod Tate

Dancer
Quiantae Thomas

Quiantae Thomas

Dancer
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

Dancer
Kendre White

Kendre White

Dancer
Selah Avery

Selah Avery

Background Extra (uncredited)
Perry Ball

Perry Ball

Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
Qualen Bradley

Qualen Bradley

Stage Crew (uncredited)
Alkoya Brunson

Alkoya Brunson

Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
Jeffery James Bucchino

Jeffery James Bucchino

Doorman (uncredited)
Judy McGee Burley

Judy McGee Burley

Extra (uncredited)
Jess Marie Carr

Jess Marie Carr

Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
Jameson Jamey Copeland

Jameson Jamey Copeland

Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
Taurus Davis

Taurus Davis

Extra (uncredited)
Dino Demitri

Dino Demitri

KKK Driver (uncredited)
Derrick Dee

Derrick Dee

Bodyguard (uncredited)
Shannon Edwards

Shannon Edwards

Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
Tyrone Emanuel

Tyrone Emanuel

Party Guest (uncredited)
Samuel Lee Fudge

Samuel Lee Fudge

Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
Adella Gautier

Adella Gautier

Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
Curtis Gordon

Curtis Gordon

Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
Montice Harmon

Montice Harmon

Party Goer (uncredited)
Rob Hays

Rob Hays

Server (uncredited)
Sarah Turner Holland

Sarah Turner Holland

Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Damita Jane Howard

Damita Jane Howard

Jack's Lover (uncredited)
Geoffrey Howard

Geoffrey Howard

Poker Player (uncredited)
Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson

Party Goer (uncredited)
Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Andre Lamar

Andre Lamar

Cheering Fan (uncredited)
Trey McGriff

Trey McGriff

Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lanier McKinney

Lanier McKinney

Dancer (uncredited)
John Merical

John Merical

VIP Guest (uncredited)
Dan Michael

Dan Michael

Theater Goer (uncredited)
Letecia Reeder

Letecia Reeder

Patron (uncredited)
Swift Rice

Swift Rice

Stage Hand (uncredited)
Darrell L. Shuler

Darrell L. Shuler

Club Goer (uncredited)
Alexis Silvestre

Alexis Silvestre

Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Nicole Spiezio

Nicole Spiezio

Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
Dorothea Syleos

Dorothea Syleos

Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Tray Williams

Tray Williams

Stage Crew (uncredited)
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie
Bessie

Recomendations