Rent Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday (1990)
3.9 of 5 from 45 ratings
1h 0min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
This sparkling documentary lets us see and hear the miracle that was Billie Holiday. Featured are rare TV and movie clips. Along with commentary by a stellar group of jazz instrumentalists and singers who knew her well. Among those recalling Lady Day are the vocalists Carmen McRae and Annie Ross (who were inspired by her), fellow Count Basie alumni Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, and Billie's last accompanist, pianist Mai Waldron, award-winning actress Ruby Dee reads from Holiday's autobiography Lady Sings the Blues. This program puts Billie Holiday's often anguished life into perspective: as this program proves, she was a victim and a fighter. Above all, she was a genius of a jazz singer, as can be seen in performance clips of such Holiday standards.Discover the many faces of this irresistible woman, this "dark lady of the sonnets", experience the power of her transcendent art.
Performance Clips:
- Strange Fruit
- What a Little Moonlight Can Do
- Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
- Fine and Mellow
- Blues are Brewin' and others- Actors:
- David Langston Smyrl, Billie Holiday, Ruby Dee, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, Milton Gabler, Carmen McRae, Albert Murray, Annie Ross, Mal Waldron
- Directors:
- Matthew Seig
- Producers:
- Toby Byron, Richard Saylor
- Voiced By:
- Ruby Dee
- Narrated By:
- David Langston Smyrl
- Writers:
- Robert O'Meally
- Studio:
- Umbrella Entertainment
- Genres:
- Documentary, Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest
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