Romance,Music,Drama
United States of America
Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 biographical drama film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Diana Ross. The story is based on the autobiography of Billie Holiday, who is portrayed by Ross in the film.
The film begins with Holiday's childhood in Baltimore, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. She was sent to a juvenile facility after being raped by one of her mother's boyfriends. After being released, she turned to prostitution to survive and was eventually discovered by a talent scout.
Holiday's rise to fame as a jazz singer is depicted, as well as her struggle with drug addiction. She married several times, including to her abusive boyfriend, Louis McKay, played by Billy Dee Williams in the film. Eventually, Holiday's addiction and legal troubles caught up with her, and she died in 1959 at the age of 44.
Ross received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Holiday, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film's soundtrack was also a commercial success, featuring Ross's renditions of Holiday's classic songs.
