Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

75% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(7,620 ratings)

Diana Ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist Billie Holiday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. Raped in her youth by a drunk (Adolph Caesar), then compelled to work as a domestic in a Harlem… More Diana Ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist Billie Holiday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. Raped in her youth by a drunk (Adolph Caesar), then compelled to work as a domestic in a Harlem whorehouse, Holliday is encouraged to try for a singing career by the bordello's pianist (Richard Pryor). She rises as high as it is possible to go in the white-dominated show business world of the 1930s, but can't handle the pressure and turns to narcotics. The film takes several liberties with the 44-year existence of "Lady Day." Among the Billie Holiday standards performed by Ross are "My Man," "I Cried for You," "Lover Man," "Them There Eyes," and the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Sidney J. Furie
Written By: Chris Clark, Suzanne de Passe, Terence McCloy
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1972 Limited
On DVD: Nov 8, 2005
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter
Ross conveys the vulnerability and determination of her character across a very believable arc of maturation.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
How is it possible for a movie that is otherwise so dreadful to contain such a singularly attractive performance in the title role?
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is filled with many of the great Billie Holiday songs, and Ross handles them in an interesting way. She doesn't sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate Holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of Holiday.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Clearly, it's an affront to Holiday's art, but just as clearly, it's a good piece of low entertainment.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though she doesn't look or sing as Billie Holiday, Diana Rosss gives a commendable performance in this fictionalized biopic, for which she received an Oscar noimination.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
View this film about Billie Holiday as a completely fictional story, and you'll enjoy it far more than you would otherwise.
Douglas Pratt, Movie City News
what the film does to Holiday's life, Ross does to her music, glossing it over a bit and condensing its artistry while infusing it with pop star glamour.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Ross so perfectly captures the essence of Billie Holiday's vocal style that it sends chills down your spine.
Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com
It's nice that Paramount decided to re-release this DVD with some fine extras
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
As tacky as it is compulsively divalicious, Lady Sings the Blues whitewashes a major talent in service of a moderate one.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Berry Gordy's gift to Diana Ross was this lavish, bloated Billie Holiday biopic.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
Ross and director Sidney J. Furie seem to feel that the slower the song, the more serious the mood, so at times the film seems to be grinding almost to a halt
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Great score, great singing, but overdramatic thanks to Ross.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mister C

Diana Ross should have won the Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holliday in a riveting performance produced by Motown legend Berry Gordy along with Suzanne DePasse and directed by Sidney J. Furie. The screen chemistry between Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams is… More
Diana Ross should have won the Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holliday in a riveting performance produced by Motown legend Berry Gordy along with Suzanne DePasse and directed by Sidney J. Furie. The screen chemistry between Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams is a moment of cinematic bliss. Nominated for an impressive ten Oscars including Best Picture,Best Director and Best Actress for Diana Ross who for the first time became the second African-American actress since Dorothy Dandridge to be nominated for the Oscar. In short,an impressive array for great filmmaking with some electrifying performances for Diana Ross herself. Along with Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Sid Melton, Adolph Caesar and Scatman Crothers,and Virginia Capers. "Lady Sings The Blues" is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary. Originally Released: October 12, 1972 Running Time: 145 minutes. MPAA Rating: R
Stella D

i'm a big fan of billie and she deserves a better film. this is dated, cliched, too long and hardly better than a tv movie. diana's not horrible but she's all wrong for the part :( 3 stars for richard pryor :)

Cast

            Diana Ross as Billie Holiday

            Billy Dee Williams as Louis McKay

            Richard Pryor as Piano Man

            James Callahan as Reg

            Paul Hampton as Harry

            Sid Melton as Jerry

            Norman Bartold as Detective

            Harry Caesar as Rapist

            Virginia Capers as Mama Holiday

            Scatman Crothers as Big Ben

            Larry Duran
            
            Yvonne Fair as Yvonne

            Ned Glass as Agent

            Robert L. Gordy as Hawk

            Lynn Hamilton
            
            Byron Kane
            
            Bert Kramer
            
            Paulene Myers as Mrs. Edson

            Isabel Sanford as Madame

            Milton Selzer as The Doctor

            Clay Tanner
            
            Charles Woolf
            
            George Wyner
            
            Michelle Aller
            
            Jester Hairston
            
            Denise Denise
            
            Don Charles McGovern
            
            Barbara Minkus
            
            Dick Poston
            
            Helen Lewis
            
            Kay Lewis
            
            Paul Micale
            
            Ernie Robinson
            
            Tracee Lyles as Whore

            James T. Callahan
            
See full cast