AllMovie

Dorothy Dandridge starred on the silver screen, then died an untimely death in 1965. This program profiles the film star, who became the first African-American actress nominated for an Academy award. The story follows Dandridge from her childhood in Cleveland, where her and her sister's acting and singing talents supported their family, through her tragic demise. There is archival film footage, including clips from her performances in Sun Valley Serenade and Carmen Jones. The personal recollections of family, friends, and colleagues tell the story of this pioneer in American cinema.