TCM Classic Film Festival April 6 - 9, 2017!! #TCMFF #ClassicFilm

Tickets go on sale for THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL this Thursday, November 3!

Here's their description of this year's comedy theme.

"Join us for the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival, exploring COMEDY IN THE MOVIES. From lowbrow to high, slapstick to sophisticated comedies of manners—we will showcase the greatest cinematic achievements of lone clowns, comedic duos and madcap ensembles."

Don't miss the chance to attend. I know every year I've learned things direct from the source - seeing many stars and film makers telling us all their secrets. Ok maybe not ALL their secrets, but some really great morsels! FYI if Angie Dickinson or Mitzi Gaynor attend DO NOT miss a interview with them. Those ladies are hilarious and love to share.

Until you've seen a classic film in an audience full of true classic film fans you can't believe what a difference it makes. Also seeing films you may have seen 100 times in your own home will have so many more details on the big screens of Hollywood's movie palaces.

See you there!

Good Girls Revolt on Amazon 10/28 #GoodGirlsRevolt #Amazon #NoraEphron

Good Girls Revolt on Amazon 10/28

Just in case you haven't heard about this series, GOOD GIRLS REVOLT, starting on Amazon tomorrow 10/28. If you have Amazon Prime you can see the pilot now.

For all the Nora Ephron fans you should know she is a character in this show. She's played by Grace Gummer, whose mother Meryl Streep also played Nora Ephron in the film HEARTBURN. The show is the fictional telling of women working for a news magazine, News Of The Week, in the late 1960s.

Mad Men fans may recognize Bethany Van Nuys (Anna Camp) too.

Make sure to tune into this one!

Here's the trailer if you aren't convinced.

#TomHiddleston in I SAW THE LIGHT Opening March 25th

By Audra Crane

Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen both give outstanding performances as Hank and Audrey Williams in the new film, I Saw the Light, opening March 25th. Hiddleston's performance as the influential 1940s and 50s singer Hank Williams is, of course, central and it is truly standout. This is in no small part because he sings Williams' songs with complete commitment, as well as convincingly disappearing into the character. 

The film is written and directed by Marc Abraham and shot by Dante Spinotti, best known for his work on LA Confidential and The Last of the Mohicans. Like those films, I Saw the Light is imbued with a strong visual sense which informs the audience of time and place. The costuming and sets are all perfectly on point and make the setting utterly believable. The light is diffuse, the color scheme in yellow filtered, mid-century earth tones broken by occasional pops of red and vivid green in the few outdoor scenes. The film mostly takes place inside small spaces, which allows the audience a sense of the internal pressures of the domestic lives being played out-even the venues feel small. 

I Saw the Light avoids the glitz of most biopics of entertainers, though it follows a traditional linear path in its telling of the story. It's a full two hours and sometimes the film, like Hank Williams' alter ego Luke, does drift, but it didn't feel slow. It doesn't seek to illuminate the hard scrabble childhood and then follow the artist to dizzying heights filled with wealth and chaos, before charting a hard fall. Rather, in this film, the career arc is secondary to Williams tumultuous relationships to the multiple women in his life during his short career. This likely wouldn't work at all were it not for the excellent turns by all of the actors. Because of this focus on his life, even more so than other films in this genre, it pays off to have a working knowledge of the basics of Hank Williams' career going in. 

While there are a number of excellent musical performances (and the film could have done with even more), the movie doesn't generally hit the audience over the head with the relationship between the music and unfolding events. While it is clear that his financial situation is improving, his growing popularity is not the central focus of the film nor the means of his downfall. It's a low-key telling of a dramatic life, with the goal of greater authenticity than the average biopic. In a pivotal scene, Hank Williams explains to a reporter the appeal of his music; Hiddleston delivers the lines quietly, but with such intensity that the central role of music in our lives, and specifically Williams' music, seems undeniable.

Roadies coming to @Showtime This Summer @Sho_Roadies #Roadies

ROADIES  cast coming to Showtime June 26th

Roadies has announced it will premiere June 26th on Showtime!!!!!

With Manhattan being cancelled on WGNA this couldn't have come at a better time. I know it is very different in subject matter and tone but I'll bet it will be high quality television and that's all I care about.

I have been dying to see this show since it was announced last year. It comes from writer director Cameron Crowe, who I love, and chronicles the life of the people who make the rock shows we love. If you've spent anytime back stage at a show you know there is a lot of story to tell there.

Starring Luke Wilson, Carl Gugino, and a great supporting cast including Luis Guzman.

They just released the trailer with a song by Eddie Vedder and quote by Tom Petty. ENJOY

Hail, Caesar! Opens Friday or Thursday If You're Lucky! #HailCaesar

Hail, Caesar! opens this Friday and like any good classic movie/Coen Brothers fiend I can barely contain myself. I do see, that here in LA, it is opening Thursday night in several theatres. So, if you are on pins and needles, like me, check here for your local theatres.

The trailers promises all the usual Coen Brother's odd hiliarity set in the films of the middle of the last century.

George Clooney plays a sort of Charlton Heston type actor.

I look forward to deciphering all the classic Hollywood Easter eggs. Just from the ads you can tell who some of the lead actors seem to be spoofing.

Channing Tatum plays a Gene Kelly type actor

Scarlett Johansson plays an Esther Williams type actor

Here's the trailer, just to get us through these last hours...

See you all at the theatre!

2016 TCM Classic Film Festival Announcement #TCMFF

TCM Classic Film Festival is a high point of my year. This year's festival is being held April 28-May 1st. Today they've released a few more of the films they'll be showing and there are some great restorations among them and they announced that Gina Lollobrigida will be in attendance. For more info on guests.

Here's the complete list of today's film announcements.

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) – Featuring an appearance by Gina Lollobrigida
Starring Gina Lollobrigida, this film, presented in collaboration with Park Circus, showcases her comedic skill and natural charm (and earned her a Golden Globe® nomination) in this tale of a woman confronted by three former lovers who have been sending support checks to help raise the daughter each thinks is his.

Trapeze (1956) – Featuring an appearance by Gina Lollobrigida
Gina Lollobrigida made her U.S. film debut, proving herself as talented as she was beautiful, in this tense tale of a female acrobat who comes between the partners in a trapeze act, played by the ever-athletic Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, presented in collaboration with Park Circus.

Children Of A Lesser God (1986) – Featuring an appearance by Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin won a Best Actress Oscar® for her film debut as a rebellious deaf woman whose life is transformed by an innovative teacher (William Hurt). Their powerful performances anchor this unique film, with a new print courtesy of Paramount Pictures in celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2016.

The Endless Summer (1966) – Featuring an appearance by Bruce Brown
TCM celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ultimate surfing documentary in which filmmaker Bruce Brown followed two young surfers on a round-the-world trip in search of “the perfect wave.”

Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) – With Conductor Dr. Mark Sumner along with Orchestra and Chorus with Richard Einhorn in attendance 
A special presentation of this classic silent film with Richard Einhorn’s original score performed by a live orchestra and chorus conducted by Dr. Mark Sumner, which brings exciting new life to director Carl Theodor Dreyer’s searing account of the trial and execution of St. Joan.

The Kid (1921)
Charles Chaplin’s first feature as star, director, writer and producer drew on his childhood experiences to create a heartwarming story of a tramp who adopts an abandoned child. Shown in a North American premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Janus Films.

The Song Of Bernadette (1943)
Jennifer Jones gives a luminous (and Oscar-winning) performance as Bernadette Soubirous, the real-life peasant girl whose visions of the Virgin Mary inspired the townspeople of Lourdes in the 19th-century shown in a world premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox.

The Keys Of The Kingdom (1944)
Gregory Peck became a star and earned his first Oscar nomination playing a priest stationed in China whose devotion to the poor keeps him from rising within the church, shown in a world premiere restoration presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox.

Private Property (1960)
TCM presents, in collaboration with Cineliciouspics, the world premiere restoration of this acclaimed independent film, an L.A. noir starring Corey Allen and Warren Oates as two small-town crooks trying to seduce a beautiful blonde.

For the complete list of films that have been announced click here.

There are still passes available, but only the lower levels. You can buy TCM Film Festival passes here.

Hope to see all my old friends at the festival this year, and of course make some new ones! Hopefully, we'll have another announcement about films and appearances soon...STAY TUNED!

The BFG in Theatres this July #TheBFG

The BFG by RoaldDahl was definitely one of my daughter's favorite books. She must have read it at least 10 times.

It's been a few years since her obsession but when I told her this film was coming she was excited about it all over again.

If your kids haven't read this one yet, get on it.

The film is directed by Steven Spielberg, and is the final screenplay by Melissa Mathison (The Black Stallion, ET, etc...). I think that speaks for itself but just in case, here's the trailer. Don't miss this one!

What To Watch In The #NewYear!

There are a few shows I am super excited about for 2016. And here they are.

DOWNTON ABBEY begins it's farewell season JANUARY 3RD on PBS.

We all love this show and are sad to see it go, but I look forward to finally seeing them all settled in their lives. Please god let Lady Edith get a happy ending at long last...

YOUNGER returns to TV Land for season 2 with a one hour season premier JANUARY 13TH.

Comedies I like are few and far between but this one is a real winner. If you didn't catch the first season you have almost 2 weeks to catch up - do so immediately!

BILLION is a new show coming to SHOWTIME you can stream the pilot starting JANUARY 1ST but it won't air on the network until JANUARY 17TH.

The show stars Damien Lewis + Paul Giamatti, which really is enough to recommend it, but it also features MAD MEN alum Maggie Siff (Rachel Menken Katz to this Mad Men uber fan). She is really great!

BILLIONS is about the financial world with Damien as a hedge fund guy and Giamatti as the US attorney who wants to bring him down. It is extremely intense and I will warn you the opening scene of the pilot has some VERY strong sexual/violent/gross content, but that is not the norm of the show. I highly recommend this one.

So there they are my top picks. There are a few other shows I'm curious about but not convinced about like VINYL (HBO Feb14) and X FILES (FOX Jan. 24).

Here's to a happy new year of television viewing!

Manhattan Season 2 Premieres Tonight #ManhattanWGNA #Fanhattan

I'm very excited for the return of Manhattan on WGN America tonight. This new season promises lots of great story lines with a bunch of new cast members, including  William Peterson, Mamie Gummer, Griffin Dunne, and Neve Campbell.

In case you need a refresh here's the wrap up of season 1.



Here's the trailer for season 2.

Coen Brother's HAIL CAESAR! Can't Come Soon Enough

The Coen Brother's are releasing a new film in the new year, HAIL CAESAR!, and I think someone better pinch me because it looks so good I might be dreaming. I know I have been AWOL for the last couple months, but this was just the thing to bring me back to sharing what I love in entertainment.

First off it has an all star cast, including George Clooney, Scarlette Johanson, Josh Brolin, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton, Jonah Hill and the list goes on and on. Second, don't let Clooney's costume confuse you, it is set in the golden age of Hollywood (I think we all know I like that). Finally, if all that weren't enough, it's a COEN BROTHERS movie.

Here's the trailer:



It's projected to release February 5th, 2016.

Ant-Man Rocks

By John Derby

 The movie Ant-Man has the look of a cheesy action flick in the trailers, but instead, it shines as a funny story-driven action movie.  Using characters that have been at the core of the Marvel Universe since the early 1960's, we are introduced to a likeable Paul Rudd playing Ant-Man.  With the help of a special red suit, the character shrinks to the size of ants (or smaller), grows back to normal size, and can talk to ants.

The characters turned out to be well written and well acted.  When I first heard Paul Rudd would play the title role, I was worried that he might be a bad fit.  I was wrong, and he was great (I had similar fears with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man).   Michael Douglas is perfect as the creator of the Antman suit, and the three bumbling sidekicks were great fun and I am sure they will make the next movie.

Again, the movie is good. Some scenes will likely be remembered as classic by many (like the scene with the Thomas the Train set).  The effects on action scenes using size changes were seamless and believable.  The movie also had a great soundtrack.

My wife groans every time she hears about another superhero movie, whereas I am a fan of this genre. We both agree that this movie was good fun and we look forward to seeing it again.

11 Year Old Reviews Minions: Opens Today #minions #MadMen

Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob

Minions comes to theatres today. My family was excited to attend a screening earlier this week.

Now my, 11 year old, daughter in her first review for The LA Rambler will tell you all about it.

By Lauren Derby

I saw Minions and I thought it was very funny. I loved how they told the story of how the minions evolved. Before this movie I wondered if Gru made them or not. The movie had many ridiculous, yet funny inventions and lots of people that were quite evil. As minions, Stuart, Bob, and Kevin, travel the world at the beginning of their adventure they make lots of friends and attempt to learn how to live in our modern world. Though they struggle in the usage of most of our accessories, tools, and even words, they find a secret villain channel on TV which continues their adventure.

The three minions all have their own gifts. Stuart has his amazing smarts, Kevin can rock the ukulele, and Bob just has some amazing luck. But all of these abilities make the movie better and better as we watched it. It was better than Despicable Me 1 and 2, though those were great too. All three of these movies have their own way of being awesome, whether it’s how the characters are all so adventurous or how funny the situations can be. Universal had us all waiting but they have come out with a wonderful movie for all ages too enjoy!

Scarlett and Herb Overkill played by Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm

Note from Elise: As an added perk for this mama, Jon Hamm ( AKA Don Draper from Mad Men) voices Scarlett's inventor husband Herb! Technically, they are the bad guys but in a very endearing way.

Doctor Who starts Sept.19 And Trailer #DoctorWho @BBCAmerica #TV

Excellent good news today for all Whovian kind. Our beloved Doctor Who will return September 19th to BBC America! 

That's really all the news I have besides this lovely trailer.

BBC does have this little request however. "So as you may have noticed, the Series 9 Teaser trailer has been set free into the universe! But what’s it all about? Who was that guy? What was that thing? Why was she standing beside her?!? We need to know! But we also need to hear what you think. Tweet us your thoughts – the crazier and more creative the better! We’re at @bbcdoctorwho and would love to hear from you!"

So Enjoy!

And here's a little blurb from the press release.

Meeting monsters old and new the Doctor will come face to face with Missy (Michelle Gomez), a city of Daleks, deadly mercenaries called the Mire, terrifying ghosts and more.

Having filmed in Cardiff since January, Peter Capaldi said:

“Soaring through all of time and space, series nine sees the Doctor throw himself into life with a new hunger for adventure. The Cosmos is there for the taking, thrilling, epic and enticing, and his to play in. But he’s almost reckless in his abandon. It’s almost like he’s running from something, something that if it ever catches him will turn his life upside down.”

Previously announced and taking up a guest role in the new season will be young new talent Maisie Williams, having already achieved global success for her role as Arya Stark in the fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Michelle Gomez (Missy) returns to plague the Doctor and Clara in the season opener, and UNIT are back with Jemma Redgrave and Ingrid Oliver (Osgood) returning to season nine following their popular entrance in season eight. Also confirmed as guest cast in the new series are Rebecca Front, Rufus Hound, Paul Kaye, Joivan Wade and Sophie Stone.

Manhattan Season 2 Trailer!!! @ManhattanWGNA #Manhattan #MadMen #MMCast

If you are still grieving the loss of Mad Men have I got some good news for you. It's a little show called Manhattan, on a little network you don't know much about. Scenerio sound familiar?

I've mentioned Manhattan on WGNA several times on the Mad Men Podcast. I really think this is the show all Mad Men fans should be watching. Not just because it is a period show but because it has that same level of quality. The acting, lighting, custumes, scripts everything are perfection.

The show is about the scientists (and their families) who worked on the Manhattan project during WWII. Most of the action takes place at Los Alamos where they all live and work in 1943. The project was incredibly sensitive so everyone was working in secrecy and even their families don't know what they're doing.

Here is the Manhattan season 2 trailer. They've yet to announce a premiere date sometime this Fall is all they say.



If you missed the first season of Manhattan you can catch it on Hulu

Manhattan will also start reairing season 1 on Sunday July 5th on WGN America.

Find WGN America in your area

Free Thrive Market Membership #Foodie #GlutenFree #Vegan

So happy to share this opportunity to try Thrive Market grocery delivery service free. Sign up here and get a two month membership free plus $10 off your first order.

I don't usually promote non entertainment at The LA Rambler, but this is a unique company that uses membership dues to allow it to deliver vegan, gluten free, etc.. groceries at 25% to 50% off normal prices and for every member they sign up they provide a free scholarship membership to a low income, student, teacher, or  military family. Their goal is really to remove the expense hurdle to eating and living healthy for everyone.

It's not just food either they also carry baby product like diapers and household cleaning products. I hope you will take the opportunity to try out this service. Not only does it remove the financial roadblock of making healthy food decisions but it also removes the need to visit several stores to get all the different brands you need. No more going to Whole Foods for one thing and the Co-Op for another, Trader Joes for everything else and finally a traditional store for all the commercial stuff.

Here's the founder with the whole story.

TCM Summer of Darkness Begins June 5th #noirsummer @TCM #TV

Did you ever want to know all there is to about film noir? Yeah, me too. This summer we will have our chance to study with the master of noir Eddie Muller among others. TCM will be airing 24 hour noir films every Friday in June and July, with Eddie introducing those in prime time. That over 100 Noirs airing on TCM beginning this Friday.

"Our film noir programming slate will trace the evolution of noir from its cinematic origins to its influence on more recent films," said Charles Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM. "We are thrilled to be able to bring our fans this extensive programming slate and to be collaborating with Eddie Muller, who is one of the foremost experts on the genre and a noir film preservationist.”

In addition to the 24-hour on-air programming, fans will also have the opportunity to experience film noir on the big screen when TCM, Fathom Events and Universal Pictures bring Billy Wilder’s noir classic, Double Indemnity (1944) starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck to theaters across the country on July 19 and 20.

If all that weren't enough you can also join an online university course, Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir. The free, nine-week course will be offered on Canvas Network and will be taught by Richard Edwards, Executive Director of Ball State’s iLearn Research and film noir expert. The course, designed in part with TCM’s Summer of Darkness Programming event, will bring together an online community of film noir students and fans to learn about the genre and its place in cinematic history.

The course will feature:

• Educational lecture videos
• Access to TCM's online archives, including movie descriptions, original photos, movie trailers and original essays on film noir
• OTTO (Open Text Tool for Online video) annotation software developed by Edwards and Christopher Turvey, a Ball State researcher/developer allowing students the experience of having real-time discussions about specific film titles
• Online video chat with Summer of Darkness primetime host, Eddie Muller

Courses officially began June 1st but you can jump in now. So sign up and become a walking talking noir encyclopedia. It's bound to make you the life of any party. Definitely any #TCMParty.

For all the info. on all the noirness - tcm.com/summerofdarkness

Knott's Berry Farm is Voyaging to Iron Reef #KnottsIronReef #NewAtKnotts

How much does my family love Knott's Berry Farm? ALOT! And this summer they have a brand new ride that we can't wait to try, Voyage to Iron Reef. We are so excite to be invited to visit on June 13th and ride it. If you want a peak follow me on Twitter (@EliseCD) or the hashtags #KnottsIronReef and #NewAtKnotts on that day. Or better yet go down to the park and get a look at it in person it's open now.

Voyage To The Iron Reef - Takes guest on a thrilling journey into the depths of the boardwalk to fight the Kraken queen.The spectacular new 4D ride feature 10 interactive scenes filled with menacing sea creatures and many hidden surprises that react to the freeze blasters controlled by the guests on board. Every rider earns a score which makes every trip to Iron Reef a competitive repeatable adventure.

There are also two new shows this Summer at Knott's.

Blockbuster Beagle!...on ice  - Charles M. Schulz Theatre - Snoopy and his Peanuts buddies "go Hollywood" bringing Walk of Fame glamour, dazzling movie lot escapades and California excitement to a brand new ice show adventure. Join Snoopy and our World-class ice skating stars at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre for this amazing new production!

June 13 - August 23 No shows on Wednesdays

Vertical Impact & Vertical Impact Geared Up Show - Vertical Impact presents the ultimate blend of extreme stunts with high flying acrobats performing a one of a kind performance perfect for the entire family! The fun continues after dark with Vertical Impact, Geared Up! This high energy show is set to the most popular songs of today, combining everything from trampoline stunts, bmx bikes, skaters, dancers, and aerialists. Every show ends with an informal meet & greet for the guests with the entire cast on stage.

June 13 - August 23 No shows on Mondays & Tuesdays

Of course we'll be hitting all our old favorites too, Montezooma's Revenge, Coast Rider, and Camp Snoopy's Sierra Sidewinder. Finally a trip to Knott's isn't the same without a meal at the restaurant and by meal I mean CHICKEN POT PIE and a slice of berry pie. I recommend eating after you are done riding the roller coasters.

“The opinions in this article are my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them.  I have a relationship with GigaSavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.”      

Cameron Crowe's ALOHA Opens Friday! #AlohaMovie

Bradley Cooper Emma Stone in Cameron Crowe's ALOHA

Tomorrow ALOHA is released. After much begging I was invited to see a screening earlier this week. I make no bone about my love of Cameron Crowe. If they made posters of directors I would hang his over my bed. It's hard to find films these days that feature the personal journey and Crowe is a master of them..

Tuesday night as we waited for the lights to dim in the theatre we were surprised by an appearance by the director himself. He urged us to set aside any leaked emails we might have read disparaging ALOHA. Personally I choose not to read the emails that came out but I know a lot of you did and I too would encourage you not to pay attention to how the sausage is made, because it is delicious.

Aloha is a story about selling out, as is often the case in Crowe films. The romance of the space program has been replaced by greedy megalomaniac billionaires (wonderfully played by Bill Murray).  Brian Gilchrist (Bradley Cooper) is said billionaire's prodigal employee returned for a chance at career redemption. Enter the extremely earnest Captain Allison Ng (Emma Stone), Brian's military baby sitter. She has different ideas about what kind of redemption Bradley's character should be after. Conflict and canoodling ensues.

The second story features Brian's (Bradley Cooper) long lost love Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams) who is married to the silent pilot Woody Woodside ( John Krasinski). There are lots of unresolved feeling and some hysterical scenes where they are resolved.

I found the film very sweet and even in a theatre full of film critics there was laughing out loud and a trickle of applause at the end. If you are looking for a film without super heroes, earthquakes, or post-apocalyptic shenanigans, run don't walk! They are few and far between and this is a good one.

Update: I know I was virtually on my own in liking this film. I definitely get why people were upset about Emma Stone's character and I thought I would share Cameron Crowe's response to that.

You can find it on his blog THE  UNCOOL

Mad Men Series Finale #MadMen @AMC_TV @MadMenCast #TV

So sad to be coming to the end of Mad Men tonight. It's been a wonderful ride and I hope it has one last thrilling loop for us tonight.

My final predictions are for Peggy and Stan to at least allude to a relationship developing, Don raising his boys, Pete and Trudy off in Witchita, Joan going into business with her new man, Roger living out his golden years on the 26th floor with Marie at home, and of course Betty pushing up daisies.

I doubt I will ever get to find out what Joan's medical condition was, but I guess you can't have everything. Maybe some years from now Weiner will open up his vault and tell us all the secret back stories...A girl can dream.

My co host Jeremiah Panhorst and I will be watching the finale together in Los Angeles tonight and then doing our last show recap podcast. We always run a bit late but I'm guessing we should be live by 8:30 pt or 11:30 et.

I'll add the podcast video here later tonight but if you want to watch live you can find the
live Mad Men Podcast here.



Here's the Doll that sang I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing that I mentioned in the pod cast

Bessie Smith On HBO tonight #TV #Bessie @HBO

Tonight at 8PM HBO is premiering BESSIE, the bio pic of Bessie Smith famous singer of the 1920s and 1930s, starring Queen Latifah. For me Bessie Smith is inextricably linked to pre code film with her famous rendition of St. Louis Blues that can be heard in so many films of the era. I can't wait to see how her life is depicted.

Here she is a rare film short appearance from 1929, Bessie comes in at 4:20 and sings at 6:57. This film also features Jimmy Mordecai as the worst boyfriend in the world.



The network description:

 Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in this HBO Films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Dee Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith’s transformation from a struggling young singer into “The Empress of the Blues,” who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today. BESSIE also stars Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, with Charles S. Dutton and Mo’Nique. Executive produced by Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck, Shelby Stone, and Randi Michel. Ron Schmidt produces.




Here's the trailer