Lady Sings the Blues
Actor(s):
Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton
Director(s):
Sidney J. Furie
Label: Paramount
Publisher(s):
Paramount
Studio: Paramount
Manufacturer: Paramount
Binding: DVD
MPN: D083744D
Format(s): Collector's Edition, Color, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Rating: R (Restricted)
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $11.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Editorial Reviews
Description
The essence of Billie Holiday, one of America's most loved and memorable blues singers, is captured brilliantly in a tour-de-force debut performance by singer Diana Ross. Filled with the greatest songs of the incomparable "Lady Day," this stunning film biography received five Academy Award. nominations, including Diana Ross for "Best Actress." Costarring Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor.
Amazon.com
Diana Ross stars as legendary blues singer Billie Holiday in this biopic that chronicles her rise and fall. It begins with her late childhood, a stint as a prostitute, those early days as a blues singer, her marriages, and her drug addiction. Overly glossy and lacking depth, this is worth seeing only for the performances. Diana Ross was nominated for an Oscar for her acting debut. A dynamo with sparkling screen presence, she realistically conveys the confusion and unhappiness that caused Holiday so much grief. Her performance is almost matched by romantic interest Billy Dee Williams. Watch for Richard Pryor, who is most powerful in a dramatic supporting role as the piano player in a brothel. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Customer Reviews
Diana Ross is incredible
In my opinion, (surely due to strong bias because I have been listening to this album since I was a little girl) this album/DVD contains some of the absolute best versions of Billie Holiday songs ever recorded. Diana Ross exquisitely captured the perfect tempo(i), inflection, phrasing, and dynamics for every song (not to mention her incredible acting performance as well.) The movie is one that I can watch over and over and over again and always be captivated.
Daina Ross: This Lady Sings and Acts
I grew up listening to Diana Ross and the Supremes. Always loved their music , So I went to see Diana Ross in a movie...Well, I don't want to overstate the case, but 'Lady Sings the Blues' is a Perfect movie and Diana Ross is Superb -nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Treat yourself to this movie and a few others: Bette Midler in 'The Rose', Cher in 'Mask' or 'Silkwood', Barbra Streisand in 'The Way We Were' or 'What's Up Doc' or to a Hillary Clinton For President speech: did you know that Hillary Clinton received more votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in history.
Lady Sings the Blues
Absolutely stunning! I first saw this movie in 1976 and it is even better than I remembered it. Ross's performance, and that of Billy Dee Williams are both excellent. It's such a pity that this movie seems to have disappeared off the screens of most shops today. I have been searching for it for years.
A Movie I Will Never Forget--Too Bad The Academy Awards Did
When I first saw this fabulous movie in 1972, I was completely awestruck. I couldn't even move from my seat, so I paid to watch it again. While Diana Ross was totally cheated out of the Academy Award for Best Actress, the movie itself was maligned when it did not receive the other top nominations--Best Picture of the Year, Best Actor (Billy Dee Williams), and Best Director (Sidney J. Furie). Moreover, it would not be a stretch to state that Richard Pryor deserved a nod for Best Supporting Actor. In my mind, Lady Sings the Blues was the very best of 1972, but politics and prejudice interfered with the acclamation the movie should have earned. I don't know that the film is technically a musical, but it is the closest thing to one I can think of, that I completely enjoyed.
Having watched it on the small screen, I can say that a fair amount of the majesty of the film is lost, but the performances are still just as satisfying today as they were in 1972.
Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
Good Night, Lady...
Regardless of the historical inaccuracies of this film, like many other "biography" films, to pick apart such an outstanding work of art is to me a waste of time. If that is what you want to do, then go dumpster diving, and pick through the garbage to find a diamond.
Because you'll have just as much luck.
This masterpiece, shows Miss Ross, in her most outstanding performance from the early 1970's, yet!!! And further trivia, this was her VERY FIRST ACTING ROLE!!! Never before, had she even acted in ANY movie before, and yet to see this movie, to see her brilliant, and poignant portrayal of the legendary singer, Billie Holiday is not to be missed. A MUST SEE. For both Billie Holiday fans, and Miss Diana Ross fans alike.
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