WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

JLRMovieReviews Nat King Cole stars in "St. Louis Blues," a short yet loving tribute to W. C. Handy. Like most Hollywood biopics, I'm sure this film barely scratches the surface of Handy's life and career, but it captures the essence of W.C. Handy, the expression of one's self and heart through music, through song. Despite the pressure to follow his minister father's footsteps, he had to go his own way, even if he was disowned. Juano Hernandez plays his narrow-minded father, who dismisses any music other than plain piano church music. This is a continual theme and plot of the movie. Will W.C. ever get or feel his father's approval? But what makes the film so great in an otherwise straightforward script is the cast and performances involved. Eartha Kitt, as a nightclub singer and a contact Will uses for advancement in his career, gets most of the screen time when Nat is not singing, and they both sing quite differently in their ways, but stop the show equally. Also outstanding is the presence of the great gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson, who can stir one up with her prayer-like style. And, then there's Ella Fitzgerald who makes a brief appearance as herself who apparently influenced W.C. Handy. And, then there's Cab Calloway, who doesn't get to sing, but adds much as an opportunist who uses W.C. Handy for his own devices. And Ruby Dee is on hand as W.C.'s girlfriend. And, Ruby is really jealous of Eartha. And, lastly, one of my favorites of all time, the inimitable Pearl Bailey, with her sassy self, as W.C.'s aunt. Both Mahalia and Pearl did not sing enough to suit me, but this was about W.C. Handy. For all these people and the sheer talent in one place, you can't get much better. Granted the film is too short, but maybe you can just watch it over and over. "St. Louis Blues" and its stars are worth the trouble to find it. Do it today.

MartinHafer This is a pleasant film about (in some ways) the life of W.C. Handy. Mostly it's watchable because the leading man, Nat King Cole, was very assured in this role and because his voice was heavenly. It also didn't hurt that you get to see performances by great Black performers such as Ertha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway (though Calloway never gets to sing in the film).Many of the real life incidents in W.C. Handy's life are present in this movie--and many are twisted an misrepresented for the sake of making an entertaining film. On one hand, Handy's father DID protest against his son playing 'devil music' and pushed him to only play church music. But on the other, in a VERY egregious manipulation of the facts, young Handy goes blind--possibly because he defied his father. In real life, while Handy DID go blind, it was at the age of 70 after he fell from a subway platform and hit his head!! In the film, it happens when he's in his 20s and only is restored when he plays church music once again!!! Utter clap-trap!! My advice is DON'T watch the film as history--watch it for its entertainment value. It's quite watchable and it's a shame Cole didn't get other starring roles, as he was very good.By the way, if you do watch this film, I also suggest you watch "The Waterboy" with Adam Sandler as well as "The Jazz Singer"! It's actually very, very funny how much these three films are alike--something you'd never expect!! In particular, it's just about the exact same plot as "The Jazz Singer"--but it's also a lot better!! Seriously. Also, the little kid who plays W.C. at the beginning of the film is Billy Preston--who later went on to some fame as a session musician with such stars as Sam Cooke and the Beatles (some call him the 'fifth Beatle' because of his work on their albums) and ultimately made a name for himself as a solo act.

ol_yng_man I really enjoyed this movie. And it was really nice seeing my all-time favorite singer, Mahalia Jackson, use her acting skills. Also, Pearl Bailey was very funny in this film- the protective aunt, as I would call her. Eartha Kitt was great and very believable- she really played the part! Nat "King" Cole, to me, still seemed a little shy on camera, but I was told that he was a shy individual. Young Billy Preston did very well with his acting and he "tore up" that organ- as he is already known for doing. There just aren't any words that I can use to describe my feelings for this video, except for it's awesome, great, and fantastic!I give it an A+++

mcadogan Black casted movies are a rarity in and of themselves, but one with such mega stars of old was so very uplifting! The movie was made by blacks for blacks and had a plot, story-line and theme that blacks can indeed relate to with pride dignity and a sense of self-esteem. The movie is one that you can watch over and over again and get something more out of it each and every time. It deals with human weaknesses and pitfalls such as are common to man; but finishes on a high note of strength and victory because of faith in and love for God and perseverance.