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(out of 5)
Otto Preminger made history when he decided to bring his all-black stage production of the Oscar Hammerstein II adaptation of Bizet’s opera to the big screen. Dorothy Dandridge won the lead role, the sassy vixen of the title who works at an umbrella factory during the second World War and wins the affection of a wayward soldier (Harry Belafonte). She treats him poorly, but as she says in her song, “Dat’s love!” The music sounds great (the two leads had their vocals dubbed by opera singers), the cast is energetic and the colours vibrant, and the film shines with pointed rebellion even after fifty years. Dandridge became the first African American actor to be nominated for an Academy Award in a leading category, though her career never quite reached the same height again. If you like this movie, you absolutely must see the excellent made-for-cable film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge starring a brilliant Halle Berry in the lead.
USA, 1954
Directed by Otto Preminger
Screenplay by Harry Kleiner, based on the libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II, and the novel by Prosper Merimee
Cinematography by Sam Leavitt
Produced by Otto Preminger
Music by Georges Bizet, Herschel Burke Gilbert
Production Design by Edward L. Ilou
Costume Design by Mary Ann Nyberg
Film Editing by Louis R. Loeffler
Film Festivals: Cannes 1955,
Academy Award Nominations
Best Actress (Dorothy Dandridge as “Carmen Jones”)
Best Music (Music Score of a Musical Picture) (Herschel Burke Gilbert)
Golden Globe Award
Best Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy
