INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE
US, 1999, 120 minutes, Colour.
Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Obba Babatunde, Loretta Devine, Cynda Williams, La Tanya Richardson, Tamara Taylor, William Atherton, D.B. Sweeney.
Directed by Martha Coolidge.
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is one of the best biography films about a Hollywood star.
Dorothy Dandridge was born in 1922 and died of an overdose, accidental or intentional, in 1965. She entered show business at an early age, excelled as a singer and then moved into some small-budget films. She sang with her sister, Vivian Dandridge (Cynda Williams) and a third in the Dandridge sister.
Early in her career, she encountered the celebrated African American dancers, the Nicholas Brothers and married Harold. Because of an assault on her by her aunt, suspicious of her dating Harold Nicholas, she had a phobia about sexual relationships. She became pregnant and gave birth to a child who had brain damage at birth. This made demands on her life, finally and reluctantly handing her over to institutional care. She was supported very strongly by her actress mother (Loretta Devine).
She took the opportunity with her manager, Earl Mills (Brent Spiner) on whose biography this film is based. She broke through some race barriers in clubs in the 1950s in Florida, canvassed for the role of Carmen Jones with Otto Preminger (Klaus Maria Brandauer) with whom she had a long relationship and who brutally broke off the relationship, damaging her emotionally. She married gambler Jack Denison (D.B. Sweeney) but the marriage was a disaster. William Atherton has a small role playing Darryl F. Zanuck.
Halle Berry is excellent in the title role and won an Emmy award for her performance. She had to re-enact Dorothy Dandridge going to t 1955 Oscar ceremony when Dandridge was nominated for Carmen Jones but did not win. Three years later, Halle Berry herself won the first African American woman best actress award for Monsters’ Ball.
The film is well written, offers insights into Dorothy Dandridge’s character and personality, and she is impersonated with some intensity and skill by Halle Berry. Brent Spiner is very good as Earl Mills as is Brandauer as Otto Preminger.
The film also offers a great deal of background about race relationships in the United States from the 20s to the 60s, scenes where Dorothy Dandridge is allowed to perform as a Las Vegas casino but not allowed to use the swimming pool which would have to be cleaned and fumigated after her use. There are also some very interesting scenes about the production and performance of Carmen Jones as well as the scenes for Porgy and Bess where Dandridge encountered Preminger again.
The film is well directed by Martha Coolidge, who began with documentaries, moved into popular films in the 1980s and directed a great deal of television as well.
1. Audience knowledge of Dorothy Dandridge? Her singing, her film performances, Carmen Jones?
2. Dorothy Dandridge’s life, the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s, the culmination in the 60s? As a singer, an actress, in films, Carmen Jones, the aftermath, other film roles, continuing her singing career? Her place within her family, the abuse from her aunt, the marriage to Harold Nicholas, the birth of her daughter, caring for her, the divorce, the meeting with Otto Preminger, her marrying, her husband as a fraudster, her relationship with her agent, her collapse? A showbiz life and death?
3. The quality of the film as a biopic, the information about characters, re-creation of the period, Dorothy Dandridge’s personality, ambitions, her flaws? Hollywood? Decline and depression?
4. The framework of the film: Dorothy talking to Geri on the phone, putting the photos in the photo album and remembering, the suicide note, her suicide or not?
5. The Oscar ceremony, 1955, her dress, going with Vivian, the interviews?
6. Dorothy’s memories, her singing in the group, the three, her mother as an actress, her mother supporting the family, her aunt and the strict supervision, the examination and abuse? The flirting with Harold Nicholas, the Nicholas Brothers and their skills, the brother and his wife, Geri? Their friendship? The flirting, the night out, her aunt’s strictness? The marriage and her happiness? The frigidity in the marriage? The attempts of Harold Nicholas to consummate the marriage, her daughter, her birth, Harold at golf, her anger, the blood and the lack of air for the daughter? The four years passing, the visits to so many doctors, the variety of opinions, attempts at cure, whether to put the daughter in the institution or not? Dorothy as a mother, her daughter not knowing her? Dorothy’s mother and her continued help?
7. The introduction to Earl Mills, the agent, at the party, being invited to listen to her sing, her being under the piano, his being impressed, his working for her, his quiet love for her, his ambitions for her, selfless, right to the end?
8. The film and its treatment of race issues in the United States in the 40s and 50s, the pool and its having to be scrubbed, yet Dorothy performing and having to go through different doors? The episode in Florida, singing in the club, her stance, winning over the crowd, their support? Singing in Las Vegas and the discrimination? The owner of the club in Florida, his stance, urging Dorothy to sing, her success? Her travel, the collage of the newspapers and her world tour?
9. The issue of Carmen Jones, a film with African American actors, the auditions, the studio’s attitude, Earl Mills and his urging Dorothy to audition, the visit to Preminger, dressed up in a proper manner, polite, getting the part of Cindy Lou, her not wanting it? Her tantrum and attack on Preminger? Her family and their urging her to talk, to walk, going for another interview? Her getting the role, her fears in the studio, on the set? Preminger and his visit, persuading Dorothy to act? The affair, its effect on both of them? The scenes of the filming, the premiere, the Oscars and her not winning, Preminger’s nod to her?
10. The bond with Preminger? Her singing, his coming to hear her, his advising her not to take the part in The King and I? His leaving her at the club? The effect on her, collapse? Her accepting Porgy and Bess, the advice of Sidney Poitier, Preminger coming on the set, her reactions to him, his dogmatic style?
11. The consequences for Dorothy, the films she chose, the film career, her singing, getting depressed, consigning her daughter to the institution, unwillingly?
12. Meeting Jack Denison, his style and manner, marrying him? The talk, her career, his violence, beating her, her self-assertion?
13. Her reliance on Earl Mills, his being there for her, his love at the end?
14. Her final collapse, her look and her face showing wear and tear, the pills, the plan to go to New York, getting ready, the preview, the note, the photos, talking to Geri?
15. Halle Berry’s performance and her bringing Dorothy Dandridge to life?
