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Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

List Price: $9.97
Your Price: $6.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The powerful story of a groundbreaking artist
Review: "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," directed by Martha Coolidge, tells the story of the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Halle Berry turns in a powerful, multifaceted performance in the title role. The film moves back and forth in time to explore Dandridge's career as singer and actress, her troubled personal life, the racism she battled, the personal demons that tormented her, and her relationships with significant figures in the entertainment industry.

Although a bit soap opera-ish at times, this is a compelling and well-made film. It is full of excellent production values--great sets and costumes really help tell this tale. Musical numbers are skillfully woven into the overall story.

But it's the fine performances that really make this biopic special. Berry is superb in the challenging title role. Fiery and vulnerable, Berry creates a full-bodied cinematic portrait of this compelling woman. She gets solid support from a superb supporting cast that includes the versatile Loretta Devine as Dorothy's mother. Klaus Maria Brandauer brings elegance and gravitas to his role as director Otto Preminger. I was especially impressed by Brent Spiner in the pivotal role of Earl Mills, Dorothy's manager; if you only know Spiner from his role as Mr. Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," you are in for a revelation in this film.

There are some powerful scenes in this film, and it really holds together overall as a unified whole. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" is a fitting tribute to Dandridge herself, and is a compelling slice of African-American history and Hollywood history.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The powerful story of a groundbreaking artist
Review: "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," directed by Martha Coolidge, tells the story of the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Halle Berry turns in a powerful, multifaceted performance in the title role. The film moves back and forth in time to explore Dandridge's career as singer and actress, her troubled personal life, the racism she battled, the personal demons that tormented her, and her relationships with significant figures in the entertainment industry.

Although a bit soap opera-ish at times, this is a compelling and well-made film. It is full of excellent production values--great sets and costumes really help tell this tale. Musical numbers are skillfully woven into the overall story.

But it's the fine performances that really make this biopic special. Berry is superb in the challenging title role. Fiery and vulnerable, Berry creates a full-bodied cinematic portrait of this compelling woman. She gets solid support from a superb supporting cast that includes the versatile Loretta Devine as Dorothy's mother. Klaus Maria Brandauer brings elegance and gravitas to his role as director Otto Preminger. I was especially impressed by Brent Spiner in the pivotal role of Earl Mills, Dorothy's manager; if you only know Spiner from his role as Mr. Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," you are in for a revelation in this film.

There are some powerful scenes in this film, and it really holds together overall as a unified whole. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" is a fitting tribute to Dandridge herself, and is a compelling slice of African-American history and Hollywood history.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: HALLE BERRY. . .the new DOROTHY DANDRIDGE!
Review:


INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE


Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Loretta Devine, Cynda Williams, 1999


Synopsis

True story of Dorothy Dandridge, the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She earned this for her role in 'Carmen Jones' in 1954. She died of a drug overdose at age 42.


My Review

This heartwarming made for TV movie, was the stepping stone to Halle Berry's Oscar win for "Monster's Ball". Kinda interesting and ironic that Berry starred in this film, and then 3 yrs later became the first black woman to win an Oscar! By the way, yes that was the guy from Star Trek!



Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Berry is oustanding!
Review: As someone who has a great interest in movies, and the lives of the people that make them, I knew that this movie was a must see for me. Halle Berry totally shines in the film, and I can see why she got the Golden Globe. This is better than your average made for cable movie, and worth a look if you want to see how hollywood dreams true and how they end so sadly.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Halle Berry is great
Review: but thsi film suffers from too much gloss over the real fact why She didn't blow up properly Race.Dorothy Dandridge had everything that Monroe,Welch,&other Beautys had&more but Her Shade was Her Sin.Halle Berry is dealing with issues in Hollywood as well always getting typedcast even though She does a wide range of films SHe still has to battle.that's why She seems at ease doing Dorothy Dandridge.She feels the same vibe even today.i agree with the other Reviewers here Whitney&Janet no thank you.they still haven't proving that they can act in music videos let alone doing a Film on Something this special&ground-breaking.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Introducing Dorthy Dandridge
Review: Hale Berry gives a stellar performance in a film that fairs slightly higher than your average TV movie. For this reason, Berry's performance makes this a must see film. Although HBO has taken many liberties with Dandridge's true-life story, the TV film accuretly captures the period, not all bright and colorful. Racism is the focus of a career that was cut short due to bigotry... The musical numbers are first rate as are the dance numbers, it's just the ho-hum soap opera approach that boggs the story down....

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good but not great
Review: Halle Berry casted as the late great Dorothy D. was brilliant! Imagine the nerve of that laughably bad acting Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson wanting to play D.D! Oh Pleeezzee! Back to my point, some of the parts in this movie was very "ho-hum" like the previous reviewer had stated and I felt that this movie had left off a couple of moments in Dorothy D.'s life that should have been included. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge was a bit flawed and VERY rushed, but nonetheless, it was entertaining. I recommend David Bogel's book " Dorothy Dandrige the autobiography" to get a well done and detailed story about this facinating woman.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Job!!!
Review: Halle playing Dorothy was an excellent choice. In addition to the physical similarities, one of the reasons why I thought Halle was perfect for the role is because they both have a lot in common. They were born in the same hospital and city, they both have mixed race backgrounds, and they both had to deal with discrimination in the acting industy (i.e. too dark for the white audience and too light for the black audience. Because of this, I thought that Halle was natural for the role. The only flaw in this film is it didn't really focus enough on her personal life.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfection in Recapturing a legend
Review: I first read the Autobiography by David Bogle before seeing the movie. I think Ms. Berry did a GREAT JOB in capturing the essence of America's First Black Star! Dorothy experienced much of the same racism back then as there still is today, but she kept her dreams in sight and captured our attention. Dorothy wasn't just a pretty face, she was a remarkable woman with deep compassions for equality for all and the freedom of expression, she along with other women of her time such as Lena Horne,Ms. McDaniel ( from Gone With The Wind )and Ella Fitzgerald (just to name a few) made it possible for African Americans to be visible in the entertainment industry. HATS OFF TO A LEGEND !!!!! We love you and miss you Dorothy!!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Serviceable, but not exactly a preview of her Oscar-ability
Review: I purchased this movie just because Halle was in it. She went on to win a Golden Globe and SAG award for the role. I am not sure, however, that she did not win, moreso, for Dandridge's memory than Her performance. However, this was a very good movie chronicling the life of Dandridge. It is well-paced and entertaining. Halle is convincing, but not incredible. I don't think she had learned how to exactly craft another woman's sorrow (even though her and Dandridge's lives have many parallels) by the time she peformed in this role. It might be better as a rental. However, if you are a fan of Berry's or the actor who played Data in Star Trek, pick it up, it's a quality film.


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