Queen latifah was a young rapper just beginning to dabble in acting when she was first approached about the possibility of playing the lead in a film about singer bessie smith. May, 2015 queen latifah is so convincing in the new hbo movie bessie, that you will find yourself googling the real empress of blues just to differentiate the two the rapper turned actress mesmerizes as. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Queen latifah, alicia silverstone, andie macdowell, et al. Queen latifah was in the zone playing bessie smith, bryan. Queen latifah is shaking up the holiday movie season a bit with her new film, billed as the first. Separated by generations, bessie, who influenced the likes of billie holiday and janis joplin, and queen latifah, one of the first female rappers to earn a. But you hear her lasting influence in performers like billie holiday. Bessie was an hbo film about bessie smith, a legendary blues singer.
The movie was something of a longtime dream project for latifah, who first auditioned for the part in 1992, shortly after shed become one. Etta james is interviewed for a women in jazz tv special in the 1980s. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of. At 45, queen latifah is playing a part she was first offered when she was 22. May 16, 2015 queen latifah was a young rapper just beginning to dabble in acting when she was first approached about the possibility of playing the lead in a film about singer bessie smith. Nicknamed lady day by her friend and musical partner lester young, holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing.
Queen latifah to star as bessie smith in hbo biopic. May 10, 2015 separated by generations, bessie, who influenced the likes of billie holiday and janis joplin, and queen latifah, one of the first female rappers to earn a gold record, are part of a continuum of. Star of the upcoming bessie smith biopic, queen latifah, has revealed she. Diana ross as billie holiday in lady sings the blues.
The movie paces itself well and most of the scenes are generally funny. On tv queen latifah steps into bessies shoes the virginianpilot. Queen latifah is resplendent in feather boas and flapper dresses, belting. May 03, 2015 at 45, queen latifah is playing a part she was first offered when she was 22.
Apr 04, 2015 defying the odds against her, bessie smith became one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and 30s. After making her mark in the world of rap, a medium very much about social immediacy and verbosity, latifahs laidback singing talent seems a surprise. She discusses her influences, including billie holiday. Billie holiday, jimi hendrix, the rolling stones, queen, nirvana, and aerosmith. Watch queen latifah in the bessie trailer and the films subject the empress of the blues herself, bessie smith was as big a persona during her day as the production was in scale. Loosely based on the 1950 british film of the same name by j. May 16, 2015 queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to bring bessie smiths life to the screen and finally. Queen latifah on bessie smith and being lonely at the top. Billie holiday billie holiday born eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959 was an american jazz singer and songwriter.
She had always hoped that playing bessie in the film, which has its premiere may 16, would introduce. Lr queen latifah, richard plepler, dee rees, monique and len amato attend the bessie new york screening at the museum of modern art on april 29, 2015 in new york city. Apr 25, 2019 queen latifahs rise to respected singer and beloved media personality is now almost 20 years in the marking. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holiday s most popular songs. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Not only does she star shes also an executive producer of the new hbo movie bessie. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer. Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie video. Oct 29, 2007 on this more anonymous track, a track not weighed down with a history of interpretations by carmen mccrea, billie holiday, sarah vaughan, and the like, quen latifah seems about to just sing out. This clip from the dvds deleted scenes includes both the 1st half of the song, which was omitted from the movie, due to length, as well as the 2nd half. To describe the plot is to miss the point, because this plot could have been made into countless movies not as funny and charming as this one. Filmmaker dee rees gets queen latifah to bare all in bessie. Billie holiday born eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17. On this more anonymous track, a track not weighed down with a history of interpretations by carmen mccrea, billie holiday, sarah vaughan, and the like, quen latifah seems about to just sing out.
In her latest role, queen latifah adopts the persona of a 20th century legend. Lambert, madonna, and queen latifah perform at the 56th grammy awards. How about a barbershop 3 with gina queen latifah vs calvin ice cube. The movie is a passion project for queen latifah, 45, who first. Latifah was best known as a rap artist in the 1990s when producers richard d. As many have pointed out, the narrator is wrong billie holliday. With michael kenneth williams, tika sumpter, queen latifah, bryan greenberg. Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years.
I love the lesson it tells and how it represents how our world is. Bessie, directed by dee rees and starring queen latifah, isnt quite that. Yify hd torrent download free movie yify torrents for 720p. Movie was filmed in 2006, countries of filming locations are united states. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Queen latifah who plays the title role in the hbo movie bessie, which premieres tonight has been working for more than 20 years to. Ella fitzgerald, billie holiday, and aretha franklin are just a few of the leading. Smith died in 1937 at age 42 but remains a jazz and blues legend, having influenced the likes of billie holiday, robert plant, and janis joplin who bought a tombstone to be placed at smiths. Nudity, bisexuality, belting the bluesshe says none of it scared her.
With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. Vintage talent and beauty pearl bailey looks like queen latifah queen. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress. Song taint nobodys bizness if i do from lady sings the blues soundtrack artist blinky williams. Bessie is the most honest, revealing biopic about a black woman weve ever seen. Its 1959 in a seedy bar in philadelphia, and billie holiday is giving one of her last performances interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music 4 months before her death. Overall, bessie feels like a threehour film with an hour of nuance and. Dana elaine owens born march 18, 1970, better known by her stage name queen latifah, is an american rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, and producer. Last holiday is a 2006 american romantic comedydrama film directed by wayne wang and written by jeffrey price and peter s. Melissa etheridge, nina simone, janis joplin and billie holiday, was. May 18, 2015 bessie is the most honest, revealing biopic about a black woman weve ever seen. An hbo films presentation, bessie stars oscar nominee queen latifah chicago in the title role and focuses on legendary blues singer bessie smiths transformation from a struggling young vocalist into the empress of the blues, one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. A star vehicle and then some, bessie casts queen latifah as blues singer bessie smith, in a big, bold movie thats as vibrant, raw and musical as it is unfocused and messy. Hbo has posted a trailer for bessie, which stars queen latifah.
Jun 23, 2015 queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Queen latifah scene in her 2006 movie last holiday. Born in newark, new jersey, she signed with tommy boy records in 1989 and released her debut album all hail the queen on november 28, 1989, featuring the hit single ladies first. It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. Billie holiday biopic starring andra day reportedly in the works. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Oct 23, 20 billie holiday born eleanora fagan april 7, 1915 july 17, 1959 was an american jazz singer and songwriter. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. The film is directed by dee rees, with a screenplay by rees, christopher cleveland and bettina gilois. Before billie holiday, dinah washington and etta james, there was a big.
At the end of the movie i was left with the feeling that i didnt really get to know bessie smith through the movie. Queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Feb 07, 2012 etta james is interviewed for a women in jazz tv special in the 1980s. In a new hbo movie the hip hop artist and actress recreates the life of the. Although queen latifahs bountiful lifeaffirming spirit permeates the film, director wayne wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair. The film is based on chris albertsons biography of her. See more ideas about queen latifah, queen, queen latifa. May 14, 2015 lr queen latifah, richard plepler, dee rees, monique and len amato attend the bessie new york screening at the museum of modern art on april 29, 2015 in new york city. May 16, 2015 smith died in 1937 at age 42 but remains a jazz and blues legend, having influenced the likes of billie holiday, robert plant, and janis joplin who bought a tombstone to be placed at smiths. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the.
The good queen latifah, along with the other nonwhite cast members, are witty, funny, and have likeable personalities. With audra mcdonald, shelton becton, george farmer, clayton craddock. Queen latifah is so convincing in the new hbo movie bessie, that you will find yourself googling the real empress of blues just to differentiate the two the rapper turned actress mesmerizes as. Last holiday is a movie that takes advantage of the great good nature and warmth of queen latifah, and uses it to transform a creaky old formula into a comedy that is just plain lovable. Diana ross made her film debut in lady sings the blues in october 1972. So im excited to talk about this because the star of this movie is dana owens, a. Priestley, the film stars queen latifah as georgia, a humble store assistant who is told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. Defying the odds against her, bessie smith became one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and 30s. Every time i feel the spirit traditional arranged by shelby j. With bessie smith biopic, filmmaker dee rees gets queen latifah to bare her all. Queen latifah is heading to hbo the rapper, actress, and talk show host will star in and exec produce a bessie smith biopic for the premium cable network the telepic revolves around iconic.
May 16, 2015 the movie was something of a longtime dream project for latifah, who first auditioned for the part in 1992, shortly after shed become one of the first female rappers to score a gold album. Alicia witts last holiday the queen latifah show duration. Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues. The movie is a passion project for queen latifah, 45, who first auditioned for the part in 1992. When she first got the script, she told strassmann, i didnt know who bessie smith was. Queen latifah queen latifah s new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Bessie smith was originally from tennessee and became an orphan at a very young age. I was at my towns local movie rental store and i saw this one on the newly released shelf. Diana ross portrayed holiday, alongside a cast including billy dee. She started out in hiphop and has definitely done more than one jazz album. Ella fitzgerald, billie holiday, thelma carpenter, lena horne, sarah vaughan, pearl bailey stay safe and healthy. I thought latifah did a great a job with the vocals which i think is the best part of the movie.
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