Leadbelly (1976): cast, story & where to watch
1976 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1976, Leadbelly is a drama film directed by Gordon Parks, running about 126 minutes. “You can't bury a black legend like Leadbelly!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there.
Who’s in it. Leadbelly stars Roger E. Mosley as Huddie Ledbetter, Paul Benjamin as Wes Ledbetter, Madge Sinclair as Miss Eula and Alan Manson as Prison Chief Guard, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Leadbelly has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Leadbelly page.
If you liked it. Fans of Leadbelly tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Leadbelly (1976)?
- In US, Leadbelly is available to stream on YouTube TV, and rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Leadbelly worth watching?
- Leadbelly holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Leadbelly?
- Leadbelly stars Roger E. Mosley, Paul Benjamin, Madge Sinclair, Alan Manson and Albert Hall.
- When was Leadbelly released?
- Leadbelly was released in 1976, with a runtime of about 126 minutes.