LADY SINGS THE BLUES

Lady Sings the Blues
Motown / Weston / Furie / Paramount, 1972, Color, 144 minutes, ***
Released October, 1972

Biopic of blues singer Billie Holiday apparently so innacurate that it caused quite an uproar on its release. Still, Miss Ross turns in a fine performance and some wonderful singing. Though a rather depressing story, it's certainly worth watching!

Producer: Brad Dexter, Jay Weston and James S. White
Director: Sidney J. Furie
Screenplay: Terence McClory, Chris Clark and Suzanne de Passe
Music: various
Production Design: Carl Anderson
Set Decoration by: Reg Allen
Costume Design by: Ray Aghayan, Norma Koch, Bob Mackie
Cinematography by: John A. Alonzo
Film Editing by: Art J. Nelson

Awards: Academy Award nominations for: Best Actress (Diana Ross); Best Original Story and Screenplay, Best Song Score, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration and Best Costume Design

Cast: Diana Ross [Billie Holiday], Billy Dee Williams [Louis McKay], Richard Pryor [Piano Man], James Callahan [Reg Hanley], Paul Hampton [Harry], Sid Melton [Jerry], Virginia Capers [Mama Holiday], Yvonne Fair [Yvonne], Scatman Crothers [Big Ben], Robert L. Gordy [Hawk], Harry Caesar [Rapist], Milton Selzer [Doctor], Ned Glass [The Agent], Paulene Myers [Mrs. Edson], Isabel Sanford [First Madame], Tracee Lyles [Whore], Norman Bartold [Detective]

Musical Program: [0:28] All of Me (Diana Ross, Richard Pryor on piano on-screen); [0:32] The Man I Love (Diana Ross); [0:35] Them There Eyes (Diana Ross); [0:46] Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer (Diana Ross); [0:53] I Cried for You (Diana Ross); [0:59] Strange Fruit (Diana Ross); [1:01] Mean to Me (Diana Ross); [1:04] What a Little Moonlight Can Do (Diana Ross); [1:23] Good Morning Heartache (Diana Ross); [1:31] T'Aint Nobody's Business (If I Do) (Diana Ross); [1:34] Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be) (Diana Ross); [1:48] Lady Sings the Blues (Diana Ross); [1:53] Don't Explain (Diana Ross); [1:58] Love Is Here to Stay (Diana Ross); [2:01] You've Changed (Diana Ross); [2:06] God Bless the Child (Diana Ross, Richard Pryor on harmonica on-screen); [2:18] My Man (Diana Ross); [2:20] God Bless the Child (Diana Ross); Other excerpts of songs by other singers