Lady Sings the Blues (film)
| Lady Sings the Blues | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Sidney J. Furie |
| Produced by |
Brad Dexter Berry Gordy Jay Weston James S. White |
| Screenplay by |
Suzanne de Passe Chris Clark Terence McCloy |
| Based on |
Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday William Dufty |
| Starring |
Diana Ross Billy Dee Williams Richard Pryor |
| Music by |
Gil Askey Michel Legrand |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Edited by | Argyle Nelson |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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144 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $14 million |
| Box office | $19,726,490 |
Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 American biographical drama film directed by Sidney J. 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. It was produced by Motown Productions for Paramount Pictures. Diana Ross portrayed Holiday, alongside a cast including Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers.
In 1945 New York City, Billie Holiday is arrested on a drugs charge.
In a flashback to 1928, Billie is working as a housekeeper in a brothel in Baltimore where she is raped. She runs away to her mother, who sets up a job cleaning for another brothel in the Harlem section of New York. The brothel is run by an arrogant, selfish owner who pays Billie very little money.
Eventually, Billie tires of scrubbing floors and becomes a prostitute, but later quits and returns to a nightclub to unsuccessfully audition to become a showgirl. After "Piano Man" accompanies Billie when she sings "All of Me", club owner Jerry books her as a singer in the show.
Billie's debut begins unsuccessfully until Louis McKay arrives and gives her a fifty dollar tip. Billie takes the money and sings "Them There Eyes". Billie takes a liking to Louis and begins a relationship with him. Eventually she is discovered by Harry and Reg Hanley, who sign her as a soloist for their southern tour in hopes of landing a radio network gig. During the tour, Billie witnesses the aftermath of the lynching of an African-American man, which presses her to record the controversial song "Strange Fruit". The harsh experiences on the tour result in Billie taking drugs which Harry supplies. One night when Billie is performing, Louis comes to see Billie. She collapses on stage. In her dressing room, Louis notices her needle marks, knows that she is doing drugs, and tells her she is going home with him. Billie promises to stay off the drugs if Louis stays with her.
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Wikipedia