Bessie
“Survival began with a song”
Synopsis
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Bessie: Trailer (HBO Films)Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-05-23
Top Cast
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Queen Latifah
Bessie Smith
Mo'Nique
Ma Rainey
Mike Epps
Richard
Tika Sumpter
Lucille
Michael Kenneth Williams
Jack Gee
Charles S. Dutton
William 'Pa' Rainey
Bryan Greenberg
John Hammond
Oliver Platt
Carl Van Vechten
Khandi Alexander
Viola
Tory Kittles
Clarence
Kamryn Johnson
Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney
Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman
Stagehand
Clay Chappell
'81' Theatre Owner
Sharan C. Mansfield
Miss Taylor
Neko Parham
Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés
Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis
Chorus Girl
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 16, 2015
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Dee Rees
- Screenplay & Story
- Bettina Gilois, Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland
- Original Score
- Rachel Portman
- Original Title
- Bessie
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Production Studios
- The Zanuck Company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, HBO Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dee Rees
Bettina Gilois, Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland, Horton Foote
Rachel Portman
Jeffrey Jur
Brian A. Kates
Queen Latifah, Lili Fini Zanuck, Shelby Stone, Randi Michel, Shakim Compere
Department Leadership Roster
Michael T. Boyd
Costume Design
Rachel Portman
Original Music Composer
Brian A. Kates
Editor
Ron Schmidt
Producer
Clark Hunter
Production Design
Dee Rees
Director
Bettina Gilois
Screenplay
Dee Rees
Screenplay
Jeffrey Jur
Director of Photography
Christopher Cleveland
Screenplay
Anderson Martin
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bessie.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Bessie.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bessie
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bessie about?
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Who directed Bessie?
Bessie was directed by Dee Rees.
Who stars in Bessie?
The principal cast of Bessie includes Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Michael Kenneth Williams.
When was Bessie released and how long is it?
Bessie was released in 2015 with a total runtime of 1h 47m.
Who composed the musical score for Bessie?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bessie was composed by Rachel Portman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bessie?
Bessie holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).