Bessie (film)

Bessie is a 2015 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 film is directed by Dee Rees, with a screenplay by Rees, Christopher Cleveland and Bettina Gilois. Queen Latifah stars as Smith, and supporting roles are played by Michael Kenneth Williams as Smith's first husband Jack Gee, and Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey. The film premiered on May 16, 2015. By the following year Bessie was the most watched HBO original film in the network's history. The film was well received critically and garnered four Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Television Movie.

Bessie
Promotional poster
GenreBiographical
Screenplay by
Story by
Directed byDee Rees
Starring
Theme music composerRachel Portman
Country of originUnited States
Production
Executive producers
  • Richard D. Zanuck
  • Lili Fini Zanuck
  • Queen Latifah
  • Shakim Compere
  • Shelby Stone
  • Randi Michel
ProducerRon Schmidt
CinematographyJeff Jur
EditorBrian A. Kates
Running time115 minutes
Production companiesHBO Films
Flavor Unit Entertainment
The Zanuck Company
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseMay 16, 2015 (2015-05-16)
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