Memphis (2011): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2011, Memphis is a music film directed by Don Roy King, running about 165 minutes.

What it’s about. Memphis is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, a club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world unable to accept their love. Originally shown in select theatres, then broadcast as an episode of the PBS series "Great Performances" (season 39, episode 11).

Who’s in it. Memphis stars Chad Kimball as Huey Calhoun, Montego Glover as Felicia Farrell, Derrick Baskin as Gator and J. Bernard Calloway as Delray Jones, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.3/10, Memphis sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Memphis page.

If you liked it. Fans of Memphis tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.