St. Louis blues

St. Louis Blues (1929) - Bessie Smith, famous Blues & Jazz singer's only film appearance. A short film that lies somewhere between sad and depressing.

Bessie arrives at her rooming house where the participants of a hallway craps game tell her that her man, Jimmy, has just gone to her room with a beautiful young woman. When she confronts the couple, Jimmy knocks her to the ground, and leaves with the other woman. Bessie begins to sing the blues. Later, in a nightclub, Bessie mournfully continues her song, accompanied by the band and the patrons. When she finishes, the band plays an upbeat tune and people begin to dance. Jimmy enters, laughing, glad-handing, and dancing up a storm. Everyone is delighted to see him. When the song ends, Jimmy calls out to Bessie, who turns and smiles, happy to have him back. They begin to dance. After a few minutes, Jimmie reaches down, steals Bessie's bankroll, and shoves her back to the bar. Holding up her money, he exits laughing, as Bessie returns to singing her sad song.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress - https://www.loc.gov/item/2023602002/

Song lyrics to Saint Louis Blues: https://family-friendly-movies.com/song-lyrics/saint-louis-blues/