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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Queenie..., May 14, 2002
Mia Sara stars as the beautiful half-caste, Merle Oberon. After being accused of murder, Queenie escapes the misery of Calcutta and travels to London. Later on as Queenie rises to the heights of Hollywood superstardom, she gets an offer to star in a film which is to be filmed in Calcutta... Queenie is based on the the novel by Michael Korda. The first part of the film shot about Queenie's early years are much more interesting than the years that follow ... in London & Hollywood. A moving picture, with great performances.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Complex Tale about Race, Identity and Loving Yourself, June 17, 2011
This review is from: Queenie (DVD)
I loved this movie. It's rare that a film manages to combine social commentary (a bitter indictment of racism) with romance, glamour, suspense, beautifully photographed locations, mysticism, and complex characters. The racism element added depth to what otherwise would have been a steamy, trashy potboiler along the lines of a Sidney Sheldon or Jackie Collins novel. As it is, this film is all the more moving because so many scenes are based on truth: Queenie is based on the life of part-Indian Merle Oberon who managed to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1930s by passing for white. However, unlike this fictionized version (spoilers here) Oberon was never able to come to terms with her heritage and there is no way she would have been able to work in Hollywood again as a leading lady had she done the brave actions her fictionized heroine does here (see the scarcity of Indian actresses in today's Hollywood cinema as an example). Kirk Douglas plays a surprisingly sympathetic if ruthless movie director, based on Alexander Korda, and his death scene at the end is shockingly realistic. The scene in which Dawn must pretend her mother is a maid is also based on truth. While Oberon of course never accidentally killed anyone, I liked how the murder subplot (which is not really the focus of the film) added urgency to Dawn's hiding of her identity. Great care was taken with this production, and it shows. A great film that inspires anyone of any race to be true to his/herself.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't read the book first!, February 1, 2005
As the previous viewer was upset over the book vs. movie I can say I didn't even know there was a book to this story. It's a wonderful story - beautfully told and it will keep you on hte end your seat the entire time. I wish they would make in on DVD. It deserves one!
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