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Trailer

Lady Sings the Blues

1972Movie2 h 24 minR

DramaMusic
73
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.0Rotten Tomatoes73%85%

A deeply moving, profoundly sad drama movie about a real life story and the mind, with standout performances and score.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, warmth or scares.

Movies with

Story

Diana Ross is Billie Holiday. Diana Ross sings Billie Holiday. And a superstar is born.

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.

Feels like

  • Tragic Biopic
  • Blues Music
  • Addiction Narrative
  • Showbiz Drama
  • Jazz Age
  • Powerful Performance
  • Melancholy Tone
  • Historical Setting

Cast

22 of 22

Crew

Directed by
Sidney J. Furie
Written by
Suzanne de Passe, Terence McCloy, Chris Clark
Produced by
Brad Dexter, Jay Weston, James S. White
Music by
Michel Legrand

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 12, 1972 · 2 h 24 min · R

Released
October 12, 1972
Runtime
2 h 24 min
Age rating
R
Content
Drug Use
Genres
Drama, Music
Original language
French
Also spoken
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$20 million
Available in
1 country

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Lady Sings the Blues?"

Questions about Lady Sings the Blues

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Lady Sings the Blues?

TCM

In the United States, Lady Sings the Blues streams on TCM.

Is Lady Sings the Blues worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73 (IMDb 7 and Rotten Tomatoes 73%).

Will I feel good after watching Lady Sings the Blues?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for melancholy and 9 for bleakness, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Lady Sings the Blues plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (10 of 10) and character depth (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Lady Sings the Blues a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$20 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $20 million worldwide, 9.9 times its budget.

Is Lady Sings the Blues in English?

FrenchEnglish

No, it was made in French, with some English.