Lady Sings the Blues (1972): Cast & Plot
Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 music drama directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring Diana Ross as Billie Holiday, Virginia Capers and Billy Dee Williams. It runs 2 hours 24 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 24m (144 min)
- Director
- Sidney J. Furie
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Weston Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Lady Sings the Blues About?
The premise of Lady Sings the Blues without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film follows the turbulent life of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, from a traumatic childhood and early attempts at a singing career to her meteoric rise to stardom. It portrays her complex relationship with boyfriend‑manager Louis McKay and the devastating impact of her drug addiction, which threatens both her career and her life.
Lady Sings the Blues Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- jazz music
- african american
- brothel
- drug addiction
- 1930s
- f rated
- lynching
- black and white scene during opening credits
- billie holiday character
- blockbuster
- sex scene
- musical drama
+38 more Show fewer
- showbiz drama
- newspaper headline montage
- african american female protagonist
- prison inmate
- ends with death
- drug abuser
- debt collector
- nightclub singer
- biography film
- love affair
- based on autobiography
- ends with death of protagonist
- music drama
- death of protagonist
- talent manager
- heroin addiction
- female jazz singer
- female singer
- cross country tour
- carngie hall debut
- musicians
- dying young
- iv drug abuse
- man beaten to death
- based on the book of the same name
- north america
- docudrama drama
- singing
- jazz score
- ladder to the top
- female protagonist
- tragic event
- manhattan new york city
- husband wife relationship
- harlem manhattan new york city
- carnegie hall manhattan new york city
- racial slur
- prostitution
Lady Sings the Blues Cast & Characters
Diana Ross leads the cast as Billie Holiday, with Virginia Capers as Mama Holiday and Billy Dee Williams as Louis McKay. Directed by Sidney J. Furie; 37 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sidney J. Furie
- Diana Ross as Billie Holiday
- Virginia Capers as Mama Holiday
-
Billy Dee Williams as Louis McKay -
Richard Pryor as Piano Man
Also Starring in Lady Sings the Blues
· 33 more- Sid Melton Jerry
- Paul Hampton Harry
- James T. Callahan Reg Hanley
- Ned Glass The Agent
- Scatman Crothers Big Ben
- Milton Selzer The Doctor
- Byron Kane The Announcer
- George Wyner The M.C.
- Harry Caesar The Rapist
- Paulene Myers Mrs. Edson
- Jester Hairston The Butler
- Lynn Hamilton Aunt Ida
- Norman Bartold The Detective #1
- Larry Duran Hood #1
- Charles Woolf Reporter #3
- Isabel Sanford The Madame
Show all 37 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Clay Tanner The Detective #2
- Paul Micale The Maitre d'
- Bert Kramer The Policeman
- Barbara Minkus Radio Actress
- Ernest Robinson Hood #2
- Don McGovern Reporter #1
- Yvonne Fair Yvonne
- Tracee Lyles The Prostitute
- Helen Lewis Debbie McGee
- Denise Denise Denise
- Toby Russ The Jail Guard
- Shirley Melline The Policewoman
- Kay Lewis Angela DeMarco
- Dick Poston Reporter #2
- Michele Aller The Singer
- Victor Morosco Vic
- Robert L. Gordy The Hawk
More from Sidney J. Furie
More films directed by Sidney J. Furie, best-rated first: The Ipcress File, The Boys in Company C, The Entity and Iron Eagle.
Lady Sings the Blues Plot Summary
What happens in Lady Sings the Blues from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1928 Baltimore, Eleanora Fagan, also known as Billie Holiday, works as a 15-year-old housekeeper in a brothel. A man who follows her from the brothel eventually rapes her. She flees to her mother Sadie, who sets her up a job cleaning for another brothel in Harlem. The brothel is run by Lorraine, a woman who pays little money to Billie. Billie tires of scrubbing floors and becomes a prostitute, but soon quits and returns to a nightclub to unsuccessfully audition to become a showgirl. After Piano Man accompanies her on stage, the club owner Jerry books her as a singer in the show.
Full summary
The whole story of Lady Sings the Blues, scene by scene
Lady Sings the Blues Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Lady Sings the Blues.
How Well Do You Know Lady Sings the Blues?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays Billie Holiday in the film?
Cars in Lady Sings the Blues
21 cars on screen, including the Fageol Safety Coach and the 1935 Cadillac Series 355-D.
-
Fageol Safety Coach Main role -
1935 Cadillac Series 355-D Minor role -
1923 Ford Model T Minor role -
Packard unknown Minor role
Lady Sings the Blues Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “La signora del blues” and “El ocaso de una estrella”.
- Also known as
-
- La signora del blues
- El ocaso de una estrella
- Леди поет блюз
- Lady poje blues
- 레이디 싱스 더 블루스
- 难补情天恨
- O Ocaso de uma Estrela
Seen Lady Sings the Blues?
Movies Like Lady Sings the Blues
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Billie and Billie.
Lady Sings the Blues FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Lady Sings the Blues, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Lady Sings the Blues?
Lady Sings the Blues runs 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes).
When was Lady Sings the Blues released?
Lady Sings the Blues was released on October 12, 1972.
Who directed Lady Sings the Blues?
Lady Sings the Blues was directed by Sidney J. Furie.
More films by Sidney J. Furie Who is in the cast of Lady Sings the Blues?
Lady Sings the Blues stars Diana Ross as Billie Holiday, Virginia Capers as Mama Holiday and Billy Dee Williams as Louis McKay, among 37 credited actors.
Does Lady Sings the Blues have a post-credit scene?
No. Lady Sings the Blues has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
