Carmen Jones
by Otto Preminger
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DVD details
Actor: Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Joe Adams, Olga James, Pearl BaileyDirector: Otto Preminger
Brand: Fox
Cinematographer: Sam Leavitt
Producer: Otto Preminger
Editor: Louis R. Loeffler
Writer: Harry Kleiner
Writer: Oscar Hammerstein II
Writer: Prosper Mérimée
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.55:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-01-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Reviews of Carmen Jones
DVD Review: "Ain't no use arguin' with the wind!"
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided to purchase "Carmen Jones" for a number of reasons. Chief among these reasons is that this movie is historical for my race, African-American. Dorothy Dandridge was the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress. Secondly, I am a huge Dorothy Dandridge fan and decided to purchase one of her movies since I had never seen one in its entirety. Many have raved about the elegance she exudes on screen as well as her outstanding skill as an actress. I finally see what everyone means! She was a remarkably talented actress, and I can utter that after only seeing one of her motion pictures. She was really ahead of her time.
"Carmen Jones" is about an extremely confident woman who pursues then acquires any man she wants, even if he is involved with someone else. However, she meets a fatal attraction (Harry Belafonte). She loves him and leaves him, but he won't have of it. He tries to get into several physical altercations with Carmen's new object of affection (who is ironically a boxer). He even threatens both of their lives. Things become tragic by the motion picture's end.
The overall acting in this movie is superb. These actors look like naturals and brought so much purity to the screen. I am not a fan of opera, but I enjoyed the music. It was not an overbearing amount of music so that made it easier. Also, this was the first old movie I have watched with my undivided attention. I always felt like old movies wouldn't be edited properly and would look unprofessional. I was so wrong! Overall, the movie was edited very well.
I will definitely be watching this movie a lot in the future. I won't put boundaries on promoting this film. It is one that I feel any and every one can take something from, so it is highly recommended to all! 5 shining stars!
Description of Carmen Jones
Powered by Georges Bizet's grand music and Oscar Hammerstein II's magnificent lyrics, this Americanized all-black version of the classic opera Carmen is "a dynamic superb show" with a positively "incandescent Carmen." (Newsweek) OscarÂ(r) -nominee Dorothy Dandridge stars in the title role, a passionate, sexy creature who lures Joe (Harry Belafonte), a handsome soldier, away from his sweetheart (Olga James). Following a fatal brawl with his sergeant, Joe deserts his regiment with the sultry femme fatale. But Carmen soon tires of him and takes up with a heavyweight prize-fighter (Joe Adams). Triggering Joe's tragic revenge. Helping to set the screen on fire are Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll, part of the "sensational troupe" that makes this jubilant musical film "hard to beat."Few actresses have captivated the camera as powerfully as Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones. Her polished beauty plays in irresistible contrast to her title character's leonine sexuality and fluid emotions; a man can't decide from moment to moment if he wants to save her from doom, build her a castle, or never let her out of bed. Of course, that's the problem with the boys in this semi-experimental adaptation of Bizet's opera, Carmen. Straight-arrow Joe (a strapping Harry Belafonte), an obedient corporal on a Southern military base during World War II, is all set to go to flight school and marry his hometown sweetie, Cindy Lou (Olga James), when his troublemaking sergeant orders him to accompany Carmen to a civilian court. In short order, Joe is swept up in Carmen's carnal anarchy and her craving for release from lousy options in life. An impulsive act of violence ensures that Joe's future is gone forever, putting Carmen in the difficult position of destroying their relationship to save him. Oscar Hammerstein II took Bizet's music in 1943 and rewrote the book and lyrics. The result is largely a smashing success with a few missteps (the bullfighter in Bizet's piece becomes a heavyweight boxer here, which breaks up a certain grace in the story) and a couple of perfect stretches (the long prelude to Carmen and Joe's first embrace, set on Carmen's hoodoo-ish home turf). Despite the fact that both Dandridge and Belafonte were singers, their vocal performances were dubbed by LeVern Hutcherson and Marilyn Horne. (Yes, it is a little disconcerting to hear another voice come out of the more familiar Belafonte's mouth.) Otto Preminger directed with his usual eye on economy of action and production, as the numerous musical numbers tend to be shot in lengthy, single, carefully choreographed takes. The result can be a little visually static at times, but the passion behind the singing pulls everything through. --Tom Keogh
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