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The Blues A Musical Journey: The Road to Memphis (2003)

Director: Richard Pearce

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From Time Out Film Guide

Lovely, subtle, low key film from Pearce, a director whose qualities are not much in demand in Hollywood. An oasis for African Americans in the cultural desert of the segretated South, Memphis - and in particular Beale Street - was central to the development of the blues. Pearce tells the story by following Bobby Rush, still grinding out funky R&B after decades on the road, still dreaming of crossover success; BB King, moved as he recalls the first time his audience turned white; and Rosco Gordon, a '50s star who disappeared when Elvis took the blues into rock'n'roll - there's a brief but pointed exchange about this between Sam Phillips and Ike Turner. You can argue about the impact white patronage had on the music, but ultimately this is Gordon's film, a poignant figure dismayed by the face Beale Street puts on today.

Author: TCh 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Richard Pearce

Producer: Robert Kenner

Cast: Bobby Rush, BB King, Rosco Gordon, Rufus Thomas, Calvin Newborn, Hubert Sumlin, Chris Spindel, Don Kern, Louis Cannonball Cantor, Cato Walker III, Little Milton Campbell, Sam Phillips, Ike Turner, BB King, Rosco Gordon, The Coasters, Fats Domino, Rufus Thomas, Little Richard, Jim Dickinson, Howlin' Wolf full cast

Genre(s): Musicals

Duration: 87 mins


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