Allen Reisner

This heartfelt biopic of composer W.C. Handy features some of the best musical talent of the 1950s, including Nat King Cole, who stars as the devout musician driven to write blues and jazz despite the disapproval of his father, Rev. Charles Handy (Juano Hernandez). Although torn between his childhood sweetheart (Ruby Dee) and a sultry singer (Eartha Kitt) -- and tormented by his father's continued condemnation -- Will composes dozens of classics.