2015
Survival began with a song
6.4
123
May 16, 2015
1h 47m
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Original Title
Bessie
Spoken Languages
English
Production Countries
United States of America
Budget
N/A
Revenue
N/A
Production Companies
Director
Writer
Producer
Composer
Screenplay
How to Murder Your Wife
Fritz the Cat
Air
Miracle
Steel Magnolias
Denial
CHiPS
Bicycle Thieves
Mirror Mirror
Burnt
The Illusionist
Promising Young Woman
Orphan
The Holiday
Juror #2
Spotlight
Brokeback Mountain
Lee
The Color of Rain
The Phone Call
Faggot
Happy Endings Sleepover
Betsy
The Dutch Boys
The Station In-Between
éabha
Kirepapa.
Across My Land
Mary Queen of Scots
Deceitful Appearances
Kroko
Yerma
L'últim ball de Carmen Amaya
Production Companies
The Zanuck Company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, HBO Films
Director
Dee Rees
Writer
N/A
Producer
Ron Schmidt
Composer
N/A
Screenplay
Dee Rees, Bettina Gilois, Christopher Cleveland
Queen Latifah
Role: Bessie Smith
Kamryn Johnson
Role: Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney
Role: Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman
Role: Stagehand
Tory Kittles
Role: Clarence
Clay Chappell
Role: '81' Theatre Owner
Tika Sumpter
Role: Lucille
Sharan C. Mansfield
Role: Miss Taylor
Neko Parham
Role: Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés
Role: Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis
Role: Chorus Girl
Jim R. Coleman
Role: Host
Melissa Youngblood
Role: Theatergoer
Mo'Nique
Role: Ma Rainey
Jennifer Sears
Role: Ma's Main Girl
Charles S. Dutton
Role: William 'Pa' Rainey
Briana Starks
Role: Ma's Dancer
Todd Allen Durkin
Role: Nightclub Manager
Crystal Lee Brown
Role: Bessie's Dancer
Hunter Womack
Role: Roadie
Christopher Harvey
Role: Roadie
Tia Hendricks
Role: Doreen Dupree
Marie Burke
Role: Etta Johnson
Michael Kenneth Williams
Role: Jack Gee
Terence Rosemore
Role: Detroit Theater Manager
Karri Mack
Role: Wild Child
Kaden Washington Lewis
Role: Swarm Boy
Khandi Alexander
Role: Viola
L. Warren Young
Role: Sharkish Man
Saundra Dunson-Franks
Role: Hostess
Bralyn Stokes
Role: Harry Herbert Pace
Cj Sykes
Role: Black Swan Executive
Adebukola Bodunrin
Role: Black Swan Receptionist
Joe Knezevich
Role: Frank Walker
Mike Epps
Role: Richard
Troy Faruk
Role: Brave Man
David Paul Lord
Role: Klansman
Chris Walters
Role: Doorman
Jessejames Locorriere
Role: Vanity Fair Editor
Oliver Platt
Role: Carl Van Vechten
Whitney Goin
Role: Fania Van Vechten
Jeremie Harris
Role: Langston Hughes
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
Role: Gertrude
Sylvester Ambrose James II
Role: Jack Gee Jr.
Bryan Greenberg
Role: John Hammond
Levi Erik
Role: Benny Goodman
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Role: Gangster
Tim McAdams
Role: Shady Guy
Kenny Banks Jr.
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Michael Burton
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Roderick Harris
Role: Bessie's Band Member
John A. Harvey
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Reggie Hines
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Kevin Kendrick
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Marcus Lewis
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Kenneth Murray Jr.
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Kwame Paige
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Jason Passmore
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Daniel Saintil
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Craig Shaw
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Don C. Sherow
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Dashiel Smith
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Eric Solomon
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Teddy White
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Wilbert Williams
Role: Bessie's Band Member
Brandon Boone
Role: Ma's Band Member
Robert Boone
Role: Ma's Band Member
Daniel Terence Harper
Role: Ma's Band Member
Anton Harris
Role: Ma's Band Member
Jody Mayfield
Role: Ma's Band Member
Derrick B. White
Role: Ma's Band Member
Edward Wright
Role: Ma's Band Member
Jonathan Bryant
Role: Dancer
Heather Bland
Role: Dancer
Raquiah Carter
Role: Dancer
Lauren Debrick
Role: Dancer
Desiree Dixon
Role: Dancer
Anthony Hart
Role: Dancer
Nia Lancelin
Role: Dancer
Keshia McNeal
Role: Dancer
Samara Michelle
Role: Dancer
LaVaughn Morton
Role: Dancer
Tiffany Murray
Role: Dancer
Ashley Neal
Role: Dancer
Tiffany Norris
Role: Dancer
Christopher L. Plunkett
Role: Dancer
Stephan Reynolds
Role: Dancer
Nateli Ruiz
Role: Dancer
Primas Leon Stanley
Role: Dancer
Brentney Stephens
Role: Dancer
Dacia Stinson
Role: Dancer
Fred Swinton
Role: Dancer
Sheerod Tate
Role: Dancer
Quiantae Thomas
Role: Dancer
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson
Role: Dancer
Kendre White
Role: Dancer
Selah Avery
Role: Background Extra (uncredited)
Perry Ball
Role: Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
Qualen Bradley
Role: Stage Crew (uncredited)
Alkoya Brunson
Role: Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
Jeffery James Bucchino
Role: Doorman (uncredited)
Judy McGee Burley
Role: Extra (uncredited)
Jess Marie Carr
Role: Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
Jameson Jamey Copeland
Role: Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
Taurus Davis
Role: Extra (uncredited)
Dino Demitri
Role: KKK Driver (uncredited)
Derrick Dee
Role: Bodyguard (uncredited)
Shannon Edwards
Role: Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
Tyrone Emanuel
Role: Party Guest (uncredited)
Samuel Lee Fudge
Role: Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
Adella Gautier
Role: Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
Curtis Gordon
Role: Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
Montice Harmon
Role: Party Goer (uncredited)
Rob Hays
Role: Server (uncredited)
Sarah Turner Holland
Role: Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Damita Jane Howard
Role: Jack's Lover (uncredited)
Geoffrey Howard
Role: Poker Player (uncredited)
Charlie Johnson
Role: Party Goer (uncredited)
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
Role: Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Andre Lamar
Role: Cheering Fan (uncredited)
Trey McGriff
Role: Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lanier McKinney
Role: Dancer (uncredited)
John Merical
Role: VIP Guest (uncredited)
Dan Michael
Role: Theater Goer (uncredited)
Letecia Reeder
Role: Patron (uncredited)
Swift Rice
Role: Stage Hand (uncredited)
Darrell L. Shuler
Role: Club Goer (uncredited)
Alexis Silvestre
Role: Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Nicole Spiezio
Role: Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
Dorothea Syleos
Role: Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Tray Williams
Role: Stage Crew (uncredited)
