Summary

ST. LOUIS BLUES

Source Archive Films by Getty Images
Title: ST. LOUIS BLUES
File Number: AFP-35B 16mm VC-35B 3 4in. VTM-35B Beta SP
Color: B W
Type: Music
Year: 1929
Description: B W 1929 Bessie Smith. The opening shot is a craps game on the floor of a roominghouse. Jimmie wins the pot with the encouragement of his new flame. But Jimmie and his girl are interupted later in Bessie's room by that outraged woman. After a know-down fight, Bessie tosses her rival out. A bitter victory, for Jimmie throws Bessie to the floor, taunting "I'll be gone before the evening sun goes down". Bessie finds solace in her bottle, and starts singing those ST. LOUIS BLUES. The scene closes. As it fades back in she is at the bar of a night spot, alone in her misery, singing with all her heart, surrounded by couples seated at tables around the dance floor. Jimmie struts back in, greeting the crowd exuberantly. Bessie naively falls for his line, only to have him lift her bankroll. Deserted again, Bessie repeats the powerful lyrics in a strong last verse. The smoke-filled speakeasy, the acrobatic waiters, the sympathetic bartender all re-create the 1929 era. Tells a simple fictional story as a pretext for Bessie to sing the blues: arriving home, she discovers her man with another woman, who has brought him luck in a craps game. Disconsolate over his infidelity, Bessie sings "My man's got a heart like a rock" ("The St. Louis Blues") and the scene changes to a bar at a night club. Bessie is joined by a band and chorus, grouped at tables scattered around the floor. One more confrontation with her no-good lover occasions a reprise. 00:19:45:00 B W 1929 MS Craps game - man comes downstairs w broom to break it up man comes in & wins big, saunters off w woman. 00:22:19:00 B W 1929 MS Couple in bedroom. 00:22:38:00 B W 1929 CU Couple hugging. 00:22:53:00 B W 1929 MS Men leaving house - Bessie Smith enters house, walks into room, finds couple, Bessie attacks girl, chases her out, pleads w man not to leave her, he knocks her to the floor, grabs suitcase & leaves she reaches for bottle & sings. 00:27:40:00 B W 1929 MS Bessie Smith sitting at bar singing. MS PAN of bar patrons & band, after Bessie finishes they start dancing to swing music. 00:30:38:00 B W 1929 MS Man entering bar, greeting customers, he dances, everyone applauds. 00:31:43:00 B W 1929 CU Bessie & man hug & dance - he gets money from her garter belt & then pushes her away, counts money & exits - Bessie goes back to sad song seated at bar.
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