Synopsis
Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, beginning with her traumatic youth. The story depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay, her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.
Ratings
IMDb7/10
Rotten Tomatoes73%
79 audience votes
Key crew
- Sidney J. FurieDirector
- Terence McCloyScreenplay
- Suzanne de PasseScreenplay
- Chris ClarkScreenplay
- Michel LegrandOriginal Music Composer
Cast
- Diana RossBillie Holiday
- Billy Dee WilliamsLouis McKay
- Richard PryorPiano Man
- James T. CallahanReg Hanley
- Paul HamptonHarry
- Sid MeltonJerry
- Virginia CapersMama Holiday
- Yvonne FairYvonne
- Isabel SanfordThe Madame
- Tracee LylesThe Prostitute
- Ned GlassThe Agent
- Milton SelzerThe Doctor
Stills
Themes
new york citybrotheljazz singer or musicianmental breakdownbiographyaddictionrape victimtour busracismbased on memoir or autobiographyperiod dramadrug overdose