St. Louis Blues

Bessie Smith was known as the 'Empress of the Blues.' The singer emerged as one of the most major influences in American blues as well as one of the country's premier jazz vocalists during her era.

Smith appeared in only one film, a two-reeler, November 1929's "St. Louis Blues." The short's plot was based on one of the most recorded songs in history (over 2,200). Directed by Dudley Murphy and filmed in Astoria, Queens, New York, Smith was the rare cross-over artist who appealed to both blacks and whites when segregation was still entrenched in the United States.

The film follows the lyrics of W. C. Handy's 1914 "St. Louis Blues" about a deserted woman whose ex's "got a heart like a rock cast in de sea." In the movie, Bessie discovers her boyfriend (Jimmy Mordecai) making out with another woman (Isabelle Washington) in Smith's rented room. Bessie beats up the woman as her boyfriend splits. Later, Bessie catches up with him in a speakeasy. The two dance, only to have the boyfriend dip into her pocket to steal her bankroll. She laments the way her boyfriend treats her, singing the Handy song which showcases her wide vocal range.

Movie reviewer Mark Cantor labeled the movie "St. Louis Blues" as a 'foundational film' in the canon of jazz and blues which is luckily preserved. It was the pioneer of the short movie format that introduced black jazz and blues artists to the screen, including Mamie Smith, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Smith's life ended tragically at the age of 43 when she died in 1937 as a passenger in a fatal automobile accident. For future generations, "St. Louis Blues" gives a invaluable record of her impactful singing talents.

Not a great film in the artistic sense, but it is all we will ever see of Bessie Smith in action, and the music is wonderful. All the more reason to criticize the NAACP's attempt to have all copes destroyed. The found the crapshoot scene demeaning. Fortunately, this attempt at censorship failed.

Years ago, Isabel Washington, who was the first Mrs. Adam Clayton Powell, told me how she came to play opposite Bessie in this 1929 two-reeler. "They wanted my sister, Fredi, who was already in pictures, but she had the flu and recommended me. When I auditioned, they said I was too light, so I told them that I could be dipped. They agreed and I got the part."

Fredi Washington is perhaps best known for her role in the 1934 Universal Pictures film, "Imitation of Life." Having served well to get Adam Clayton Powell elected, Isabel was divorced from him, and he married pianist Hazel Scott.

This sloppy, unstructured two reeler featuring a diamond in the rough, blues singer Bessie Smith, is a it of a bumpy buggy ride but it does lay claim to having the only visual recording of the finest female blues singer outside of Billie Holliday.

Slick Jimmy the pimp is quite a rascal around the ladies but Bessie can't quit him. Caught philandering again Bess beats the woman and Jim walks. Drowning her melancholy in beer, Jimbo reappears to the delight of the locals, busts same energetic moves and takes her for a ride again.

Blues bustles with activity from a crap game to a jumping nightclub where customers and waiters camp it up while Bessie broods. She is indeed the jewel in the crown in the picture but there are also jazz giants (James P. Johnson, Thomas Morris) as well as Johnson Hall's Choir lending support to this unevenly edited, music explosion of rare and only filmed recording of The Empress of Blues.

An orphan street performing before 10, killed in a car crash at the height of her career, bisexual Smith's tempestuous personal life probably had a Jimmie or two in it as well. If anyone had the reason to sing the blues it was certainly the tragic Smith. A must for anyone interested in the history of American music.

See why Bessie Smith was called the "Empress of the Blues" in this early sound short. An actress she was not, but the power and expression conveyed in her singing voice as she belts out the W.C. Handy composition of the title track is incredible. This film also gives you a rare glimpse of the talent of Jimmy Mordecai. One could only imagine what they could have accomplished had they been given the opportunity afforded other actors of their time.

St. Louis Blues (1929)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

This early race Musical is without question one of the strongest I've seen for a number of reasons. The plot is fairly simple as legend Bessie Smith walks into a gambling hall and catches her husband with a younger, prettier woman. She begs for him to come back with her but the husband knocks her to the ground and walks out, which causes Bessie to pour herself a drink and sing the title song. This film works on a number of levels but as a race movie I think it's perhaps the best I've seen from the 20s or 30s. We've seen a black gambling house in house white films made by white folks so it was very interesting seeing the difference here and I'm going to go out on a limb and say this here is a lot more authentic than what the major studios were showing. The film is also interesting because it shows how women were looked at during this era because we see Bessie get knocked down and kicked yet she begs for the man to keep her. Even before this happens Bessie storms into the room and beats the fire out of the other woman, which is certainly something that didn't show up in those MGM shorts. Finally, I've read that this is the only known video footage of Bessie Smith and man what a voice she had. Her singing the blues would make anyone a fan of the genre and she certainly gives it her all and delivers a strong vocal performance. Her acting ability wasn't the greatest but I thought she did OK with it. The film is extremely raw and authentic and part of this is probably due to the obvious low-budget. This film works on just about every level and is highly recommended.