Carmen Jones (1954)

I love this movie so much

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Blistering performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I suspect that it was risky for a notable director to release a movie with an entirely African-American cast, but Otto Preminger pulled it off with this adaptation of the musical based on Georges Bizet's 1875 opera. Dorothy Dandridge plays the vivacious title role with Harry Belafonte as the soldier who falls for her. We could make the argument that "Carmen Jones" was considered "acceptable" because it showed African-Americans singing and dancing (one of the stereotypes of them), but even so it was still a bold move, and the result is an impressive one.It was around this time that Harry Belafonte was becoming known as a calypso singer (co-star Brock Peters sang backups on Belafonte's most famous song but is best known as Gregory Peck's client in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). Since then he's always been part of social justice movements. Dorothy Dandridge died young, and we can only speculate on the direction that her career would've taken had she survived.Anyway, I recommend the movie. Good one.

There's obviously tragedy in store for Dorothy Dandridge's soft-looking beauty here who messes with the wrong guy and lives to regret it in this all black version of the Bizet opera which focused on a bullfighter and senorita. The setting has been moved to a World War II military factory where Carmen sets her eyes on Joe (Harry Belafonte), a handsome solder assigned to escort her to a military prison for starting a fight while on duty. Is her interest in him strictly because of wanting her own freedom or is she genuinely interested in him, going out of her way to break him up with the sweet Cindy Lou (Olga James) who longs for a husband and home just like her parents had. But as quickly as she lands him, Carmen is bored, getting involved with a prize-fighter and forgetting all about Belafonte.Beautifully filmed with gorgeous music (but a few awkwardly translated lyrics), this musical tragedy is definitely a period piece. Still, Dandridge, the most gorgeous femme fatal since Rita Hayworth, shines, and if someone was deserving to win the Oscar over Judy Garland that year (and definitely the winner, Grace Kelly), it would be her. Pin-ups of her look gorgeous to this day, and when Halle Berry got into the off-the-shoulder blouse and tight black skirt, it was as if time had stood still and the real life tragic Dandridge was back in the land of the living. Both written and filmed biographies of the now legendary star make it obvious that she was the total opposite of her character, and that Rita Hayworth quote, "Men went to bed with Gilda and woke up with me" could definitely be replaced with Carmen instead of Gilda.Belafonte is an eloquent hero, his fall from grace obvious the moment he sees her in the commissary as she sings "Dat's Love" while gazing longingly at him. James is sweet and angelic, while in other supporting roles, Pearl Bailey and Brock Peters have some memorable moments as well. Bailey tears up "Beat Out That Rhythm on the Drum" while Peters shows both emotion and flaws as Belafonte's sergeant. There will be curiosity over the presence of the beautiful Diahann Carroll in a small role, but she has very little to do.It is obvious that there was a great deal of affection between Dandridge and director Otto Preminger as he gives her the most beautiful of close-ups and treats her like a movie goddess. Their second film together, "Porgy and Bess", is sadly very difficult to find, although clips do turn up in documentaries and various tributes from time to time. "Carmen Jones" may have its flaws (and even ripe for parody, especially with some of its music infamous for appearing in the "Hamlet" musical on "Gilligan's Island") but it gave us the powerful presence of the still gorgeous Dorothy Dandridge whose star went out way too soon.

Otto Peminger deserved an Oscar for best director. Unbelievable....flawless musical. Dorothy Dandridge stole the show and she certainly deserved the Oscar for best actress. Harry Belafonte was excellent as well. Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll...excellent cast. The scenes where Belafonte chases Dandridge atop a moving train appears to have been done without stunt doubles. When Dandridge clambers over a half-submerged jeep,her athletic ability is on full display. It was a novelty to have an all-black cast throughout - many actors,many extras. This movie was epic. A must-see for any film buff. It's a tragedy that Dandridge did not star in many more films - such a gifted actress. Those were the days when racism prevailed. This film is a treasure.

You may guess that I love Bizet's opera Carmen, it is somewhat tragic but very passionate. While updated, this film directed wonderfully by the talented Otto Preminger is a wonderful contemporary version of the opera, still maintaining Bizet's wonderful music and inspired lyrics from Oscar Hammerstein II. Whether it is the definitive film version of the opera I am not sure, I absolutely adore the 1984 film with Placido Domingo and Julia Mignes-Johnson. That aside, this film is really handsomely shot, with beautiful crisp cinematography and stunning scenery. And of course the music is outstanding "Dat's Love", "Dis Flower", "Stan' Up an' Fight" and "Dere's a Cafe on de Corner" really do stand out. The story is a beautiful, tragic, compelling one, not at all confusing. And the performances are marvellous, Dorothy Dandridge is superb as Carmen Jones. She is gorgeous, flirtatious and sexy, everything Carmen in the opera should be. Harry Belafonte does a great job as Joe, the man consumed for the passion of Carmen, so much so he is driven to murder. Olga James is heart breaking as Cindy-Lou, Pearl Bailey is a delightful Frankie, Joe Adams is a great Husky Miller and Brock Peters is effective as Sergeant Brown. I have heard complaints that the singing was awful, and I disagree completely. Marilyn Horne has a beautiful singing voice and she did well as Carmen. She has been better though, she has a much stronger voice than what was heard here. And LeeVern Hutcherson has a lovely tenor voice, quite lightweight and sensitive when it needs to be. And Marvin Hayes has a very resonant voice that is needed for his character. If the singing was a little quiet at times, do bear in mind sound and technology wasn't as good then than it is now. My real complaint was that the lip-synching was a little behind the singing at times, but other than that, this is a great film. 9/10 Bethany Cox