Lady Sings the Blues
(1972)
Overview
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.
Director
Sidney J. Furie
Writers
Chris Clark, Suzanne de Passe, Terence McCloy
Top Billed
Diana Ross
Keywords
Where to watch
Top Billed Cast
Crew
Reviews
CinemaSerf
⭐ 7/10July 5, 2025
I’ve never really be an huge fan of Diana Ross’s voice, but there’s no getting away from her personable and visceral performance here as the flawed jazz musician Billie Holliday. With Motown’s Berry Gordy at the helm it was always going to lead on the music and it does that effectively too for the most part whilst giving us the basic bones of her turbulent battle with narcotics. We start in that position so often inhabited by aspirational young b… read the rest.
Status
Released
Original Language
FR
Budget
$2,000,000
Revenue
$19,726,490