Customer Reviews

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"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.

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....

This movie was spectacular from a "made for t.v." movie stand point. Halle Berry was an exceptional choice to play the role of Ms. Dandridge. All my life, I have been a fan of Dorothy dandridge and I was happy to see a film depicting her life. It was very well put together but focused little on what Dorothy was known for, her movie career. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman to be nominated for an Acamedy Award. She had many stellar and standout performances including "Porgy and Bess", "Island in the Sun", and "Carman Jones". I would have liked to see more of the film cover her outstanding film career. The film did however show her fight against racism in the music as well as film inmdustry. She was a one of kind woman and this film is definitely worth watching if not owning.

The problem with film bio's is that you always end up feeling a little cheated. There's always the question of how much was left out, altered or downright fictionalized. When the bio is of someone whose life and works may be less well known to the contemporary viewing public--which may be fairly said of Dorothy Dandridge, I believe, a full 35 years after her death--the questions of veracity become even more problematic.

A screen biography of this trailblazing actress/singer is not inappropriate. As the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award, the first to insist on and receive a star's remuneration, she certainly warrants the attention of film lovers and scholars. And her own life was certainly dramatic, involving possible sexual abuse from an "auntie," multiple marriages, a mentally retarded child and a secret interracial relationships with a prominent director (Otto Preminger).

"Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" pretty much lives up to its title. It is an introduction to the life of a talented, troubled performer, who broke through barriers but who ultimately ended up broken and broke. Halle Berry has the role of her career here and deserves the acclaim she has received so far. Still you wonder if the movie could have been a little less formulaic, a little less choppy ("Oh, it's five years later!") and sketchy on the details.

This made-for-TV version of the film focuses on Dandridge's musical career (rather than her film career, even though she was first black woman to be nominated for an Oscar), and the racism she had to endure throughout her life. The acting is very good (especially by Berry and Brent Spiner, who plays her manager), but the film left too much to supposition and imagination in some areas. For example, it never made clear if Otto Preminger really loved her or not, and why he dumped her so suddenly from his life; it also never made clear if Mills (her manager) loved her enough to have a physical relationship with her (or if he only loved her from afar). [The scene in which her manager holds her in his arms and sings to her to calm her down during one of her serious bouts of depression is especially touching.] The movie also suggests that the Black men who persued Dandridge were just sex-hungry and had no true affection for her; And because it's a TV-movie, we don't know if any of this is TRUE... So buy the film for the performances (which were very good), not for the story line (which is rather ragged) or the "historical accuracy" of the film (which is questionable).

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.

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.

I thought the movie was okay, but it certainly was not what I expected for an autobiography of Ms. Dandridge. Halle does an okay job certainly better than the Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston they need to stick to singing. I would like to clear the misconception that is printed in so many comments about Dorothy. She was not the first Black actress to be nominated for an for an academy award. That honor goes to Hattie McDaniel who also the first black to win the award for her performance in 1939's gone with the wind(best supporting actress). Dorothy was however, the first black actress to be nominated for Best Actress for her role in Carmen Jones and she lost to Grace Kelly I believe.

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.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge tells the story of how Dorothy Dandridge rose to fame despite racism against African Americans in 1950s America. Amazon correctly notes that the film doesn't shy away from the uglier realities that Dandridge had to endure. We see Dorothy having to use a cup to urinate in instead of using the bathroom that was only for whites; and Dorothy watches as people scour the pool at The New Frontier Hotel in Vegas after she merely splashed her foot in the water. We also get insight into how Dorothy was pushed around by Hollywood executives who wanted her to play comparatively small parts like the role of Tuptim in The King and I after starring in Carmen Jones.



Halle Berry portrays Dorothy Dandridge with a sensitivity that you can easily appreciate. The victimization Dandridge suffers while living with her mother and her mother's apparent girlfriend is very starkly portrayed without any attempt to water it down; and you find yourself empathizing with her character Dorothy pretty quickly after the movie starts. Halle Berry practically throws herself into the starring role of Dorothy with passion and energy that would make Dorothy proud and grateful if she were still with us today to view this movie. Berry's portrayal of Dorothy's pain and deep angst when she must confront the fact that her only daughter with Harold Nicholas, her first husband, is profoundly brain damaged convinces you that Berry feels everything Dorothy experienced when Dorothy herself had to take the bad news. We see Halle Berry acting convincingly throughout the rest of the picture, too--overjoyed with her love affair with Otto Preminger, crushed when he leaves her twisting in the wind. We see Halle Berry showing us both sides of Dorothy Dandridge--the fiery, brave and amorous side and the vulnerable side of her as well.



The supporting cast turns in marvelous performances also. Look for Obba Babatunde to play the role of Harold Nicholas, Dandridge's first husband who cannot be the family man she truly wants him to be although he tries; and Klaus Maria Brandauer is well cast at director Otto Preminger. Brandauer portrays Preminger as a cold, calculating man who wants what he wants when he wants it--and then throws Dandridge's love for him away as soon as he no longer wants it anymore. In addition, Brent Spiner does a great job playing the role of the faithful, loyal manager who tries to guide and protect Dandridge during her tumultuous career and personal ups and downs.



The cinematography reflects great judgment; the camera moves at all the right angles to capture the action and mood of every scene. The choreography works well, especially in crowd scenes including Dandridge's first appearance at Ciro's nightclub. In addition, the scenes that display domestic violence reflect a great deal of forethought and good judgment to make the action have just the right effect on the viewer. Excellent!



The DVD comes with few extras: I disliked the advertisement "extra" which basically just tries to get you to buy more DVDs. The brief biographies of the real life cast members were good but I would have appreciated some commentary by director Martha Coolidge or the cast members.



Introducing Dorothy Dandridge does more than merely accomplish the goal of telling us the story of Dorothy's roller coaster career and personal life. This is an insightful portrait of a lady whose life story is full of sad and poignant moments interspersed with professional triumphs and happiness. Do yourself a favor and get this movie on DVD--you won't be disappointed in the slightest.