Customer Reviews

Mahogany

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There is no need to film a bio on Miss Ross, anyone who is curious about the Diana Ross persona,her obsession with re-packaging her image and her crowd pleasing energy should be able to feast on all of the above in this very simple, light bit of entertainment fluff that is period perfect, complete with a campy runway show displaying Miss Ross' very amateur fashion designs. Her eye for style has always been much more successful in her real life on stage and off. Mohagany is about an ambitious fashion design student (Tracy chambers) coaxed into modeling( while toiling under the most uptight boss at a dept. store) and ending up the toast of (mid-seventies fashion hot spot)Rome.The re-named Mahogany is played with relish by Miss Ross at her physical peak with all the elements in place: the high-fashion skeletal frame, the elegantly graceful body language,the voluptuous lips, enormous eyes, perfectly chiseled button nose and sculpted cheekbones. All shown to stunning effect with her natural hair pulled tightly back. Miss Ross performs the mega-hit theme song in that instantly recognizable voice which could be described as velvet wrapped longing teetering on the brink of heartbreak. And simmering just beneath that delicate voice is the sass, the singleminded ambition, the will of steel, the ferocious drive,the anger-management issues, the diva-tantrums and of course, the man-troubles. Does she find love in the arms of the earnest ,underdog local politician played by Billy Dee Williams whose life is the flip side of the decadent-glitzy fashion world or does she let a rich Italian sugar daddy provide her with her dream fashion empire.
The scene that really sums up that legendary Ross spirit is when she goes on her first casting(go-see) as a model. She faces a panel of jaded Italian advertising slime-balls who ridicule her on her lack of sex appeal (no T ,no A...or even legs!)...well, she fires back at them like a verbal machine gun, mowing 'em down while asserting her-self, physical and otherwise. They are left totally dumbfounded and to top it off, much to Ross' amazement, there happens to be one lone female (the owner of the agency no less)seated ,very quietly and indifferently -never looking up once- among the men. Well, she is totally blown away by the ROSS SPIRIT....and offers her the gig (a perfume ad) without any hesitation. It's no wonder, this happens to be the precise moment when la Ross is looking her chic-est and most uncharacteristically restrained in head to toe ivory (very 1930's vogue sketch). This great sweet, unexpected revenge scene dissolves right into one of the most mesmerizing cinematic montages of la Ross being photographed in a zillion different moods (innocent, artsy, vampy, sexy, coy, seductive, playful, fun, wild, strange, dramatic, glamorous, chic...)by the always peculiarly entertaining Anthony Perkins(perfectly cast, once again, as Mr. Oddball with multiple issue disorder). This sequence could quite possibly be the first cinematic moment extensively devoted to celebrating Black-Breathtaking-Gorgeousness....or "anything TWIGGY or LAUREN HUTTON can do", ROSS will try her best to OUT-DO! Not the least bit surprising for a woman who many believe would compete with her own shadow...and WIN!!It's quite a mesmerizing montage and created over 30 years before the music video phenomenon that heavily stroked a music artist's vanity while their latest recording played in the background. Major props to Mr. Gordy on pulling this gritty classic 70's film together....and for succeeding in getting his ultimate creation's face out there decades before Youtube took over the planet...and where her many images and performances happily lives on forever.

What an incredible surprise to open my mailbox yesterday to find advance copies of the forthcoming DVD sets for "Lady Sings The Blues" and "Mahogany"! Rightly considered among the "holy grail" of DVD's for Ross collectors, there has been speculation for years as to WHY? it has taken so long for Paramount to address these titles when most every other motion picture has seen not one but several reissues in the digital format. One must keep in mind, however, that these films represent Berry Gordy's last ties with his legendary label and the film industry; he OWNED these films, Paramount is simply the distributor. It wouldn't surprise me if their DVD release was held back until the public was clamoring for them. In the past couple years, demand for these films has built to a fever pitch, and at last here they are.

"Mahogany," in particular, holds a special place in my heart, as it was my introduction to the LEGEND of Miss Diana Ross when I first saw it in theaters in October '75. Storyline aside (and it is a wimpy one), Diane gave a dazzling performance and looked brilliant throughout this, her second motion picture. In its first two weeks, "Mahogany" grossed nearly $7M (good gross then), and the demand for it was so strong that the Loews State in New York was forced to stay open around the clock in order to accommodate the crowds. People in ticket lines were controlled by mounted police. Reviews were simply lukewarm, but I often wonder if that had to do more with the production/directorial values - this was Berry Gordy's first attempt at being the director of a major motion picture - than Diane's performance. Laughingly, I think reviewer Rex Reed said it best, when he observed that, "Mahogany exists as a hymn to the celebration of how glorious it is to be Diana Ross." One only has to remember Diane was one of the biggest stars in the WORLD when this film went into production in 1974.

If "Mahogany" has any drawbacks for me, the primary culprit would be the grainy washed-out film print. Seriously, it looks as though Berry used reusable film stock in an effort to cut down cost (a practice he was more than familiar with at Motown). Fans will be happy to know this new DVD transfer has been considerably cleaned-up and looks as good as other productions of that time (think Paramount's "The Godfather"). Moreover, the outer artwork/packaging has been spruced up and is quite vibrant in colour - a thousand times better than the basic white packaging on the old VHS version. Lastly, hats off to Paramount for taking the pains of releasing what is essentially a "B-film" in both widescreen and full-screen versions...they actually had the foresight to know that Diana fanatics will obviously buy both copies. (YES Scotty, this DVD IS the gay man's wet dream! LOL)

Should be a good fourth quarter for Paramount Home Video; the sales of this little classic (along with "Lady") are sure to take them by COMPLETE surprise. (Hear that Amazon.com? Better stock accordingly!) To quote an old Supremes song...FOREVER CAME TODAY!

I first saw Mahogany on TV in the 70's. I remember the scene when the Italian millionaire jumps up and shouts "Twenty Million Lire!" and my grandmother said "that's sure an expensive dress."
Mahogany is one of my favorite movies of all time. I know it's not a "great" movie. It's not "Citizen Kane." But, if you love movies about fashion, you will LOVE this!
There are so many great things about Mahogany from a visual standpoint. The crazy Asian disco outfits with tubing were actually designed by Diana Ross herself. Think mid 70's Labelle. Just fabulous! The montage of Diana Ross modelling in Italy with the theme song playing is fantastic! The scene where Ross's character is hung over and making crazy faces wearing a white fur coat in a red Ferrari (I think it's a Ferrari)is hilarious. And, of course, you get to see La Ross's nipple when she fumbles with her robe.
Mahogany is pure camp fun. I own the VHS of it and can practically recite the entire film. I am so happy it is finally going to be available on DVD.

Like so many divas before her and after her, "La Ross" shines in this 1975 camp classic which exemplifies the cliche saying "it's lonely at the top."

The gowns, the glamour, the nails and the youth of Miss Ross are unparalleled. She was beyond fabulous and at the height of her artistic zenith. The montage is especially pleasing and one can only fantasize about being in Rome in the mid 70's while swathed in those fantastic creations and Fendi and Maximillian furs (read the credits).

Substantively, the film is not to be taken seriously....but I agree with one reviewer's assessment back then who said that it is "testament to how glorious it is to be Diana Ross." I wholeheartedly agree.

Mahogany is a Wonderul black love story of a woman raised in Chicago's inner city ghetto (Diana Ross). She has dreams and aspirations of becoming a fashion designer and eventually achieves that goal. But when she leaves home to go to Rome to claim her fame as a model she learns that it's lonely at the top and she starts to miss home and her one true love (Billy Dee Williams) who she's forsaken. The movie has a great moral to the story simply put by Billy Dee Williams, What's sucess (money and fame) when you don't have no one to share it with. This was a great performance by both actors.

"Success is nothing without somebody you love to share it with" says Brian to Tracy ... Well, many Diana Ross fans around the world were desperately waiting for this DVD to share her second movie success !

When I first saw this movie I made myself like it. I was very young at the time and a die-hard Ross fan, so I had to like everything she did. As time has passed I've grown more honest with myself, and a lot more realistic about Diana Ross and the sad fact that she has a propensity to pick and perform mediocre material.

Mahogany is a perfect example of one of those projects that on it's face had potential but was ruined by the hacks who were hired to bring it to the screen. First, Berry Gordy fired Tony Richardson the original director because he didn't know how to achieve "Blackness" in his direction. Then, he (Gordy) takes over the direction and goes for every Hollywood cliche he can pack into one film.

The plot is the tired story of a poor working class girl who makes good in the fashion world and then throws it all away to go back to a life of failure just to be with the man she loves. Let's face it, this story has been told so many times before, it has become it's own genre.

Ross plays Tracy Chambers, the heroine in our story, with style and intensity, and she even manages to win you over in a few scenes but just when you think things are getting better, something really dumb happens.

Billy Dee Williams plays a loser politician who spouts out more BS in his speeches than any real politician ever has in real life. If you had the chance you would definitely vote for the other guy. Tracy had it right when she left this jerk.

Tony Perkins plays a crazed homosexual trying to prove to himself he's not really gay by making love to Tracy, in a scene that feels so sleezy that you'll want to shower after viewing it.

To be fair there are a few moments in this melodrama that give you a look at the immense talent that was wasted here, like where Brian and Tracy have a huge fight and she tells him she dosn't need him, (Very good acting on Ross' part) and where Tracy helps Brian in his campaign and tells him it's all just show biz. But the real high point of this film is the beautifully filmed and edited fashion montage with Diana being transformed into the glamorous Mahogany set to the instrumental version of "Do You Know Where You're Going To?" It is a virtual feast for the eyes and ears.

Finally, I can only wish this had been a better film.

No doubt all the press surrounding "Dreamgirls" got this old Motown produced flick unearthed again. The VHS pressings of this movie have long been out of print. Bootleg DVDs have been floating around for years. I hope this legit DVD release has outtakes and deleted scenes. The back story of this movie is that Berry Gordy took over as director after the original director wanted out of the production. Ross even left the set alot to cry in her trailer. Tension between her and Gordy was boiling.
Producer Gordy had alot riding on the movie and just really stressed his
diva out. But, in the end, they produced a memorable film. It still holds up after all these years.

Mahogany on DVD is the best present that I could ever get for my 30th birthday(besides an engagement ring, LOL). It's my FAVORITE movie of all time. Mahogany was filmed in my hometown Chicago and it features the Grand Duchess Diva Diana Ross. When Billy Dee says "Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with," my hearts melts every time. If you don't own it (I have it on VHS) BUY IT!!

"Mahogany", a bittersweet story that rejoices and basks in the excesses of fame and fashion that at the same time points to its tragic aspects in its lead character's isolation, is told elegantly through the device of projection in "Do You Know Where You're Going To?". It is as though Diana is asking Billie Dee the same question that Whitney-through another Michael Masser vehicle-would ask some 12 years later:" Didn't We Almost Have it All?". The trade-offs are bittersweet if one's success is in vain-as all success ultimately is; the struggles are ultimately self-serving and alienate those around Diana who watch Diana-both on screen and off-slog her way to the top.

Autobiographically poignant, Diana transfers that sense of isolation that she feels onto Billie Dee, who feels the same way: "Do you know where you're going to/Do you like the things that life is showing you?/Where are you going to?" . Berry Gordy, the movie's director,upon the theatrical release was indicted by Time Magazine for wasting one of America's national treasures. However Clive Davis, formerly president of Arista, indicted the Academy Awards for not nominating "Do You Know where You're Going to?", calling into question the integrity of the Oscar committee and its racial biases and hailing Diana and her delivery as triumphant. After all, it was all about the drama, baby.