(1954)
4.5
Richard Gilliam
Carmen Jones is a fine film whose luster is enhanced by the performance of Dorothy Dandridge. Her Best Actress Oscar nomination was the first for an African-American performer in that category. Although Dandridge was a fine singer with a successful night club career, her voice wasn't "operatic" enough to suit studio execs who dubbed her singing voice with that of opera singer Marilyn Horne. It was unusual in the 1950s for a film with an all-black cast to be marketed to white audiences. Tight studio control kept the production costs to a manageable $750,000, but it would be three years before Dandridge made another film, and another five years before a similar project, Porgy and Bess, would be attempted. Seen today, the story creaks a bit, but Dandridge elevates the film considerably.
Carmen Jones on AllMovie
Carmen Jones (1954)
