St. Louis Blues

Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.

Discover

Nat King Cole

W.C. Handy

Eartha Kitt

Gogo Germaine

Mahalia Jackson

Bessie May

Ruby Dee

Elizabeth

Juano Hernández

Rev. Charles Handy

Teddy Buckner

Musician

Barney Bigard

Musician

Lee Young

Musician

Billy Preston

Will Handy as a Boy

Pearl Bailey

Aunt Hagar

Art

Roland Anderson

Art Direction

Hal Pereira

Art Direction

Robert R. Benton

Set Decoration

Sam Comer

Set Decoration

Costume & Make-Up

Edith Head

Costume Design

Nellie Manley

Hair Designer

Wally Westmore

Makeup Designer

Crew

Haskell B. Boggs

Cinematography

Directing

Allen Reisner

Director

Editing

Eda Warren

Editor

Production

Robert Smith

Producer

Sound

Writing

Mack David

Lyricist

Martha Koenig

Lyricist

Art

Roland Anderson

Art Direction

Hal Pereira

Art Direction

Robert R. Benton

Set Decoration

Sam Comer

Set Decoration

Costume & Make-Up

Edith Head

Costume Design

Nellie Manley

Hair Designer

Wally Westmore

Makeup Designer

Crew

Haskell B. Boggs

Cinematography

Directing

Allen Reisner

Director

Editing

Eda Warren

Editor

Production

Robert Smith

Producer

Sound

Writing

Mack David

Lyricist

Martha Koenig

Lyricist