PickFlick
Bessie

Bessie

Survival began with a song

2015•1h 47m•6.3/10
DramaMusicTV Movie

Ratings

🎬TMDb
6.3/10(126)

The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.

Open in PickFlick

Production

The Zanuck Company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, HBO Films

Language

EN

Status

Released

Release Date

Trailers & Videos

Cast

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith

Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey

Mike Epps

Mike Epps

Richard

Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter

Lucille

Michael Kenneth Williams

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee

Charles S. Dutton

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey

Bryan Greenberg

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond

Oliver Platt

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten

Khandi Alexander

Khandi Alexander

Viola

Tory Kittles

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

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director

Onira Tarés

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl

Jhoni Davis

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl

Jim R. Coleman

Jim R. Coleman

Host

Melissa Youngblood

Theatergoer

Recommended

A Perfect Ending

A Perfect Ending

6.2
2012
Movie

This intimate drama follows Rebecca, a woman who has kept her sexuality a secret from her friends but chooses to reveal it to a stranger. While Rebecca's revelations may not yield the results she expects, a perfect ending is still in reach.

A Perfect Ending

2012
6.2
Crossroads

Crossroads

7.3
1986
Movie

A wanna-be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long-lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.

Crossroads

1986
7.3
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

6.6
2020
Movie

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

2020
6.6
Camp Belvidere

Camp Belvidere

6.5
2014
Movie

Camp Belvidere is a lesbian romance set in the 1950s about the coming of age of Camp Leader Rose and her forbidden encounter with Nurse Gin. It depicts the journey and evolution of a friendship into a romance between two women when their rapport would have been unlikely.

Camp Belvidere

2014
6.5
Hounddog

Hounddog

6.4
2008
Movie

A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.

Hounddog

2008
6.4
The World Unseen

The World Unseen

7.1
2007
Movie

A drama centered on two women who engage in a dangerous relationship during South Africa's apartheid era.

The World Unseen

2007
7.1
Elena Undone

Elena Undone

6.9
2010
Movie

The wife of a pastor who preaches against homosexuality embarks on an affair with a female writer.

Elena Undone

2010
6.9
Cadillac Records

Cadillac Records

7.1
2008
Movie

The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

Cadillac Records

2008
7.1
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

7.0
2022
Movie

The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

2022
7.0
Iron Jawed Angels

Iron Jawed Angels

6.8
2004
Movie

Defiant young activists take the women's suffrage movement by storm, putting their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote.

Iron Jawed Angels

2004
6.8
Bedrooms and Hallways

Bedrooms and Hallways

6.0
1998
Movie

At the suggestion of a straight friend, gay man Leo joins a men’s group, where he causes some upsets by declaring his attraction to one of its members.

Bedrooms and Hallways

1998
6.0
Grace of My Heart

Grace of My Heart

6.1
1996
Movie

Philadelphia teenager Edna Buxton wins a talent contest during the early rock 'n' roll era, changes her name to Denise Waverly and moves to New York City to make it big. Though she flops as a recording artist, fast-talking record producer Joel Millner recognizes her songwriting talent and teams her with struggling songsmith Howard Caszatt.

Grace of My Heart

1996
6.1

Similar Movies

Engel & Joe

Engel & Joe

6.2
2001
Movie

A love story of a 17 year old punk-rocker and a 15 year old runaway girl.

Engel & Joe

2001
6.2
Look at Me

Look at Me

6.3
2004
Movie

Talented 20-year-old Lolita dreams of a singing career. But her self-esteem is low due to her weight problem and her narcissistic father, Étienne, a literary star with scant interest in his daughter's life. Lolita finds little comfort in the attentions of her vocal coach, suspecting the woman is using her to meet her influential father. Étienne's second wife proves to be Lolita's only trustworthy ally in her private battle to find a sense of worth.

Look at Me

2004
6.3
Zero Motivation

Zero Motivation

6.4
2014
Movie

Filmmaker Talya Lavie steps into the spotlight with a dark comedy about everyday life for a unit of young female Israeli soldiers. The human resources office at a remote desert base serves as the setting for this cast of characters, who bide their time pushing paper, battling for the top score in Minesweeper, and counting down the minutes until they can return to civilian life. Amidst their boredom and clashing personalities, issues of commitment—from friendship to love and country—are handled with humor and sharp-edged wit.

Zero Motivation

2014
6.4
On the Sunny Side

On the Sunny Side

6.0
1956
Movie

Main character Esther feels like she doesn't fit into the 'elite' and takes the big showdown with those who always have.

On the Sunny Side

1956
6.0
Gypo

Gypo

5.2
2005
Movie

Gypo is the story of a working class family in Margate, Kent, a town where immigrants have become the focus of most of the public's discontent. The film tells the story of the a couple of weeks in this family's life, beginning when a young Czech girl, Tash, comes to visit. The film is made in the Dogme95 tradition, so no costumes, no lighting, no props or sets, which gives the film a gritty texture appropriate to the story.

Gypo

2005
5.2
Debut

Debut

3.5
2016
Movie

A short film about Philip who dreams of becoming a model. At a casting he gets the chance to be photographed with the well-known model Sebastiaan; they fall in love. During the photo shoot, Philip pushes his limits more and more in order to keep the photographer's interest. Philip and Sebastiaan lose control of the situation when Philip is doing everything he can just to be able to stay in front of the camera.

Debut

2016
3.5
No Image

Make America Great?

2.0
2017
Movie

It's 2021, the beginning of the second term after the most anticipated Presidential election in 2016. The 13th and 14th amendments no longer exist.

Make America Great?

2017
2.0
Rojo Guajillo

Rojo Guajillo

8.0
2023
Movie

The domestic violence suffered by a tamal saleswoman leads her to take impulsive measures in the search for justice, and to protect her family.

Rojo Guajillo

2023
8.0
Voevoda

Voevoda

7.2
2017
Movie

At the end of the 18th century in Bulgaria under Ottoman slavery, a young woman leaves home and family to become leader of a guerrilla gang.

Voevoda

2017
7.2
Lolz-ita

Lolz-ita

4.8
2017
Movie

A naïve but internet savvy 22 year old navigates the reality of her boring, small town Canadian life juxtaposed with the fantasy of her provocative and powerful Instagram celebrity.

Lolz-ita

2017
4.8
The Third One

The Third One

6.7
2014
Movie

After meeting in a chat room, Fede arrives at a down- town building to have an intimate encounter with a gay couple older than him. As the night unfolds, Fede has an intense and telling experience. The next morning finds him different, as if suddenly he had found a new possible way to love.

The Third One

2014
6.7
Wilde

Wilde

6.6
1997
Movie

Oscar Wilde is a married playwright who has occasionally indulged his weakness for male suitors. After much toil, Wilde debuts 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in London, and a chat at the theatre with Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas leads to a full-fledged romance. However, this affair leads to a legal dispute with Lord Alfred's oppressive father, the Marquess of Queensberry, and, given the local anti-gay laws, Wilde is jailed. Wilde's vast intellect helps him survive until he regains his freedom.

Wilde

1997
6.6
PickFlick Assistant
Hi! I'm your PickFlick Assistant. Ask me about movies, TV shows, IPTV sources, or anything about PickFlick.

Powered by CopilotKit