A cinematic tribute to the late blues singer Bessie Smith, with Bessie Smith as she appeared in the 1929 film St. Louis Blues and songs sung by her as well as a commentary read by Joseph Marzano.

Something did: a biopic about Bessie Smith, the great African-American blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. The HBO production stars Queen Latifah in the title role, a project the ...