Bessie

Bessie

2015 | 1h 47min | Not rated
Survival began with a song
Bessie

Storyline

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

Cast

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith
Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey
Mike Epps

Mike Epps

Richard
Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter

Lucille
Michael Kenneth Williams

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee
Charles S. Dutton

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey
Bryan Greenberg

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond
Oliver Platt

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten
Khandi Alexander

Khandi Alexander

Viola
Tory Kittles

Tory Kittles

Clarence
Joe Knezevich

Joe Knezevich

Frank Walker
Jeremie Harris

Jeremie Harris

Langston Hughes
Jennifer Sears

Jennifer Sears

Ma's Main Girl
Crystal Lee Brown

Crystal Lee Brown

Bessie's Dancer
Terence Rosemore

Terence Rosemore

Detroit Theater Manager
L. Warren Young

L. Warren Young

Sharkish Man
Tia Hendricks

Tia Hendricks

Doreen Dupree
Whitney Goin

Whitney Goin

Fania Van Vechten
Neko Parham

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director
Kaden Washington Lewis

Kaden Washington Lewis

Swarm Boy #1
Alkoya Brunson

Alkoya Brunson

Swarm Boy #2
Todd Allen Durkin

Todd Allen Durkin

Night Club Owner
Swift Rice

Swift Rice

Stage Hand
Jim R. Coleman

Jim R. Coleman

Host
Jessejames Locorriere

Jessejames Locorriere

Vanity Fair Editor
Onira Tarés

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl #1
Jhoni Davis

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl #2
Hunter Womack

Hunter Womack

Roadie #1
Christopher Harvey

Christopher Harvey

Roadie #2
Marie Burke

Marie Burke

Etta Johnson
Levi Erik

Levi Erik

Benny Goodman
Nicole Spiezio

Nicole Spiezio

Marguerite d'Alvarez
Bralyn Stokes

Bralyn Stokes

Harry Pace
Sylvester Ambrose James II

Sylvester Ambrose James II

Jack Gee Jr.
Briana Starks

Briana Starks

Ma's Dancer

Alan T. Coleman

Stagehand

Tray Williams

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Montice Harmon

Party Goer

Crew

Dee Rees

Dee Rees

Director

Clark Hunter

Production Design

Bettina Gilois

Screenplay
Dee Rees

Dee Rees

Story
Dee Rees

Dee Rees

Screenplay
Horton Foote

Horton Foote

Story

Jeffrey Jur

Director of Photography

Christopher Cleveland

Screenplay

Shakim Compere

Executive Producer
Hallie Foote

Hallie Foote

Co-Executive Producer

Randi Michel

Executive Producer
Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah

Executive Producer

Ron Schmidt

Producer

Shelby Stone

Executive Producer

Lili Fini Zanuck

Executive Producer
Richard D. Zanuck

Richard D. Zanuck

Executive Producer
Rachel Portman

Rachel Portman

Original Music Composer

Brian A. Kates

Editor

Billy Hopkins

Casting

Drew Monahan

Art Direction

Traci Kirshbaum

Set Decoration

Michael T. Boyd

Costume Design