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Lady Sings the Blues


by Berry Gordy, Brad Dexter, Billie Holiday, Chris Clark, Suzanne De Passe, Terence McCloy, William Dufty
Directed by Sidney J. Furie
Starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton
Paramount

List Price: $14.98
Price: $11.99
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Sales Rank: 4548
Release Date: November 08, 2005
Rated:  
Running Time: 144 minutes
Theatrical Release: October 12, 1972
Studio: Paramount


FORMATS

  • Collector's Edition
  • Color
  • DVD-Video
  • Special Edition
  • Widescreen
  • NTSC


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 (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 112 reviews)

movie review  
I remember watching this movie back in the 70s. I enjoyed it very much and am happy to add it to my cult classic collection. If you like a good musician biography to add to your collection like Ray, The Dreamgirls, or even Walk Hard---this is the movie.
December 24, 2008

This Movie Needs to Be Recreated  
I have always adored Billie Holiday since I was a kid. She is, to me, the greatest female jazz singer in history. I was about 11 when I first saw this movie and I was naturally excited when I learned that there was a movie about Billie holiday's life I was completely horrified and disappointed with this movie, Diana's acting, and the singing. I wanted to hear Billie's actual voice with the music, or at least someone who had a similar vocal quality to Billie. Nothing personal to Diana, I also like Diana's singing and some of the other movies that she had played in. I just don't think this was a good choice for her to star in. I felt that they could have chosen someone who looked and sang at least a little similar to Billie. But, I see the director didn't care about that either, instead choosing someone who was famous and popular, though no similarities to the actual character.

I conclusion, I truly hope that someone will remake the movie with a stronger need of quality. Personally, I think that Jill Scott could be one of the few singers/actresses to possibly play the role of Billie Holiday due to her similarity in looks and jazz vocal qualities.
September 10, 2008

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.
August 28, 2008

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.
August 13, 2008

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.
June 12, 2008


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