From the Press Release
Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah (“Chicago”) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees (“Pariah”) from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Dee Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith’s transformation from a struggling young singer into “The Empress of the Blues,” one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.
Debuting SATURDAY, MAY 16 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, BESSIE is executive produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Lili Fini Zanuck, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Shelby Stone and Randi Michel. Ron Schmidt produces.
Other HBO playdates: May 16 (1:15 a.m.), 17 (7:00 p.m.), 20 (10:30 a.m., 8:00 p.m.), 24 (1:30 p.m., 4:00 a.m.), 26 (3:00 p.m., 11:45 p.m.) and 30 (9:45 a.m., 4:00 p.m.), and June 1 (9:30 p.m.), 5 (1:00 p.m.), 10 (5:00 p.m.) and 13 (3:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 18 (2:00 p.m., 12:45 a.m.), 22 (9:00 p.m.), 23 (4:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 28 (4:30 p.m.) and 31 (9:00 a.m., 9:00 p.m.)
The talented cast includes Michael Kenneth Williams (HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”; “12 Years a Slave”) as Bessie’s husband, Jack; Khandi Alexander (“Scandal,” HBO’s “Treme”) as Bessie’s older sister, Viola; Mike Epps (“The Hangover,” “Soul Men”) as Richard, a bootlegger and romantic interest; Tory Kittles (HBO’s “True Detective”; “Olympus Has Fallen”) as Bessie’s older brother, Clarence; Tika Sumpter (“Ride Along,” “Sparkle”) as Lucille, a performer and romantic interest; Oliver Platt (“X-Men: First Class,” “Fargo,” “Chef”) as famed photographer and writer Carl Van Vechten; Bryan Greenberg (“Friends with Benefits,” HBO’s “How to Make It in America”) as renowned record producer and music critic John Hammond; with Charles S. Dutton (“Longmire,” “Alien 3”) as Ma Rainey’s husband, William “Pa” Rainey; and Oscar® winner Mo’Nique (“Precious”) as blues legend Ma Rainey.
BESSIE offers an intimate look at the determined woman whose immense talent and love for music took her from anonymity in the rough-and-tumble world of vaudeville to the 1920s blues scene and international fame. Capturing Bessie’s professional highs and personal lows, the film paints a portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, became a celebrated legend.
Throughout the years, Bessie Smith has served as an inspiration for such illustrious singers as Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Nina Simone, among others.
A labor of love for the filmmakers, BESSIE has been 22 years in the making. The first draft was written by celebrated playwright Horton Foote. Queen Latifah was approached by producers Richard and Lili Fini Zanuck to take on the role of Bessie when she was just launching her acting career. She eventually came on board as an executive producer, along with producing partner Shakim Compere.
Says Latifah, “I have been excited about this project since the very beginning. When HBO got involved, we were thrilled and we worked together to make something that would capture Bessie’s life honestly and respectfully.”
BESSIE marks a return to HBO for the star, following her Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning performance in HBO Films’ “Life Support.”
Director Dee Rees, whom the New York Times selected as “One of the 20 Directors to Watch” and Filmmaker Magazine called one of “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” caught HBO’s attention with the buzz around her award-winning film, “Pariah,” a much-talked-about hit at the Sundance Film Festival. Rees brought that same power of a raw and personal perspective to the writing of the script for BESSIE. Her singular sensibility and passion made Rees the perfect choice to direct the film.
BESSIE, an HBO presentation of A Flavor Unit Entertainment Production and A Zanuck Company Production, was filmed in Atlanta.