ThiefHott
Too much of everything
Hayden Kane
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
kijii
Carmen Jones (Dorothy Dandridge) is great as a tempestuous she-devil, tempting and playing around with straight-shooting Joe (Harry Belafonte) as he prepares to go to flight school at a Southern army camp during World War II. The two meet at the camp where Carmen also works. When she gets in trouble, Joe's Sergeant (Brock Peters) makes Joe escort Carmen to a civilian court for trial. But, taking care of Carmen is more than he is capable of. First, she coaxes him to her hometown. Then she coaxes him to Chicago to see Husky Miller's boxing match with some of Husky's groupies, including Frankie (Pearl Bailey) and Myrt (Diahan Carroll).In the title role, Dorothy Dandridge, was the first black woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. The movie is loaded with many other "firsts": first all-black cast in a color CinemaScope musical, first musical adaptation of Bizet's opera with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstien, and the first musical directed by Otto Preminger.Carmen Jones is great musical, full of fun, dancing, and song, and I was happy to see some of the old black stereotypes broken. For example, most speech and behavior patterns seemed more natural and fluid to me as a white person. One has a feeling that this movie is fairly up to date for the 1940s--unlike Porgy and Bess which was a Gershwin opera set in a poor black fishing village in 1912 South Carolina.In spite of all of its superlatives, the movie does seem somewhat disjointed at times—hard to explain.. However, I think Dandridge's performance was worthy of an Oscar.
gavin6942
Contemporary version of the Bizet opera, with new lyrics and an African-American cast.Most critics loved it, but Channel 4 called it "a truly dreadful film. Preminger can't be faulted for ambition, but for once, his execution is sorely lacking... Dandridge's tough, hip-swinging, steely eyed Carmen goes some way to redeeming things, but the part is too fractured by the imposition of another singing voice, bad dubbing, and the alien tone of the songs." In 1992, Carmen Jones was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Indeed, it has earned this -- a film adaptation of a play adaptation of an opera. And one of the first big films with an all-black cast. That was ground-breaking in the 1950s.For me, I did not really get into it. But that was because this really is not my kind of music. For those who like "Carmen", you may love this movie.
qormi
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.
froberts73
First, the minuses. No one need try to guess about Belafonte being dubbed. That ain't his range. He is mellow, soft-voiced. Dandridge, of course was not a belter, but who cares? Pearl Bailey was Pearl Bailey. Brock (Broc) Peters was always a favorite, always an outstanding menacer.Credit 20th Century Fox, and Darryl F. Zanuck, the only major studio and exec to back African-American productions in those days.Some of the slower songs dragged somewhat, but the faster-paced items should have made Bizet proud. All in all, "Carmen Jones" gets high ratings for the bulk of the musical numbers, and the dancing which I would have liked to see more of.Getting back to Miss Dandridge. She played the part of the sultry Miss Jones to perfection. The story? Once again, it shows how a woman can screw up your life.One more thing. The ending was much too abrupt with Belafonte looking beautifully mean. It was choke-choke THE END.
