The United States vs. Billie Holiday

About The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit."

The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 history music film directed by Lee Daniels. It runs 131 minutes and was released in March 2021.

The film is filed under surveillance, FBI agent, jazz singer or musician, and war on drugs.

Andra Day stars as Billie Holiday, Trevante Rhodes as Jimmy Fletcher, Garrett Hedlund as Harry Anslinger, and Leslie Jordan as Reginald Lord Devine. The screenplay is by Suzan-Lori Parks. Produced by Roth-Kirschenbaum Films. In the United States it streams on Hulu.

The Last Emperor, Public Enemies, and The Right Stuff make useful companions to The United States vs. Billie Holiday, all filed under 1940s, 1950s, and biography. TMDB voters put it at 6.5 out of 10 across 324 votes and it carries a R rating.