St. Louis Blues (1958): cast, story & where to watch
1958 · Film · ★ 7.8
Released in 1958, St. Louis Blues is a drama and history film directed by Allen Reisner, running about 105 minutes. “The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.
Who’s in it. St. Louis Blues stars Nat King Cole as W.C. Handy, Eartha Kitt as Gogo Germaine, Cab Calloway as Blade and Ella Fitzgerald as Singer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.8/10, St. Louis Blues has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch St. Louis Blues page.
If you liked it. Fans of St. Louis Blues tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch St. Louis Blues (1958)?
- In US, St. Louis Blues is available to stream on YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is St. Louis Blues worth watching?
- St. Louis Blues holds an audience score of 7.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in St. Louis Blues?
- St. Louis Blues stars Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson.
- When was St. Louis Blues released?
- St. Louis Blues was released in 1958, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.