St. Louis Blues
“The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!”
Synopsis
Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.
Top Cast
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Nat King Cole
W.C. Handy
Eartha Kitt
Gogo Germaine
Cab Calloway
Blade
Ella Fitzgerald
Singer
Mahalia Jackson
Bessie May
Ruby Dee
Elizabeth
Juano Hernández
Rev. Charles Handy
Teddy Buckner
Musician
Barney Bigard
Musician
George 'Red' Callender
Musician
Lee Young
Musician
George Washington
Musician
Billy Preston
Will Handy as a Boy
Pearl Bailey
Aunt Hagar
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 7, 1958
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Allen Reisner
- Screenplay & Story
- Spencer Williams, Mack David, Martha Koenig, Mercedes Gilbert, Ted Sherdeman, Robert Smith
- Original Score
- Nelson Riddle, W.C. Handy
- Original Title
- St. Louis Blues
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Allen Reisner
Spencer Williams, Mack David, Martha Koenig, Mercedes Gilbert, Ted Sherdeman, Robert Smith
Nelson Riddle, W.C. Handy
Eda Warren
Robert Smith
Department Leadership Roster
Edith Head
Costume Design
Eda Warren
Editor
Robert Smith
Producer
Allen Reisner
Director
Ted Sherdeman
Writer
Robert Smith
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for St. Louis Blues.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring St. Louis Blues.
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Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
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Movies categorized under History
🎷 Great Jazz Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About St. Louis Blues
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is St. Louis Blues about?
Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.
Who directed St. Louis Blues?
St. Louis Blues was directed by Allen Reisner.
Who stars in St. Louis Blues?
The principal cast of St. Louis Blues includes Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson.
When was St. Louis Blues released and how long is it?
St. Louis Blues was released in 1958 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for St. Louis Blues?
The original motion picture soundtrack for St. Louis Blues was composed by Nelson Riddle, W.C. Handy.