Watch St. Louis Blues For Free

Too much of everything

Better Late Then Never

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Although Nat King Cole made many guest appearances in various films the only leading role he ever took on was that of W.C. Handy the composer and father of the Blues as he's generally accorded that title. In terms of facts this film is just like Night And Day, Deep In My Heart, and Till The Clouds Roll By just as much factual truth about Cole Porter, Sigmund Romberg, and Jerome Kern as their biographical films have. We don't expect much in the way of truth.For instance Handy did go blind, but that was not until 1943 after a fall off a New York City subway platform, not as is shown here. There was also no cure for it either as Handy spent his last years in the dark.He was in fact the son of a preacher who did not hold with the kind of music is son wanted to make. Juano Hernandez plays Handy's stern father and the motherless child played William Preston has Pearl Bailey as the aunt and maternal influence in his life. The conflict between father and son drives the film as Handy just cannot get his father to accept the Blues as art form.There are two women in Handy's life, his churchgoing sweetheart played by Ruby Dee and the nightclub performer Eartha Kitt who I believe is playing a character based on Bessie Smith. Such other performers as Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson have parts in the film that suit their talents.But it's the music performed for which we watch these films and Cole and the cast perform it well. With the names I've mentioned you would expect nothing else. As for Cole in his one and only time as a lead he did a superb job as the talented and troubled W.C. Handy.A really fine film that has not been available on DVD, VHS, whatever. We should remedy that.

"St Louis Blues", the 1958 biopic of the great W.C Handy, is, though not perfect, very enjoyable to watch and-- more importantly-- listen to.Portraying Handy is Nat King Cole, in his only leading role in a feature-length Hollywood film. He sings a few tunes (all fantastically performed, of course) and his acting is even relatively convincing. Also in the cast is Eartha Kitt (whose role I believe would have been better filled by someone like Lena Horne), Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey and even Billy Preston as Handy as a child. Ella Fitzgerald joins the cast, too, but it is only a cameo. Nevertheless, her part is very important; she gives a stellar rendition of "Beale Street Blues", one of the many great W.C Handy tunes featured.I would definitely recommend this movie, mostly because of the talent in it-- Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and the rest of the cast's talent and, of course, W.C Handy's talent.This perfect blend of lightheartedness, drama and music is a great biopic of one of America's-- and the world's-- most talented songwriters is a must-see for any lover of Handy or Cole, or, such as myself, both.

Thanks to TCM for showing this extraordinary and constantly surprising film, one this film-lover was completely unaware of. It has everything to delight: the incredible line-up of musical super-stars in the first place, and the subtle but strong acting performances from each member of such a glittering cast (whether in a major or supporting role, as if part of a repertory company) did so much to delineate the fine story values that had social impact and tugged at the heart. The shining glimpses of greatness never ceased to entertain and astonish all the senses (ear, mind, eye . . .) in this gem of a film that has rarely been equaled from this musician's perspective.

Central to the story is the antagonism between W.C Handy and his disapproving father, Reverend Charles Handy. The usual plot turns ensue while W.C. wrestles with his conscience, on the one hand as an obedient and under-empowered son, and on the other as a first-class and inspired musician. The story's a bit of a clunker, and some of the acting a bit two-dimensional. The good Reverend hams it up for us, looking much younger than his apparent signs of extreme age - the limp and gray hair more theatrical than filmic - while Nat King Cole's W.C. Handy suffers from soap opera indigestion. However, Eartha Kitt delivers the films best lines (and attitude) in a beautifully understated performance. It doesn't hurt, either, that she looks like a million dollars while doing it. The movie has the look and feel of having had a decent budget, and the sound in the television screening I saw was flawless, which made the real point of the movie outstanding: the music. To see so much of black America's musical talent of the time, performing in a medium atypical for them, is pure joy. The arrangements and delivery are breathtaking, especially for Eartha Kitt and Nat King Cole, while other numbers from the cast of luminaries are shining examples of their work. It's extraordinary that there is, to date, no DVD available for this film and a shame that more people will not get a chance to see - and hear - this historic gem.