Carmen Jones (1954)
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Reviews Counted:17
Fresh:12
Rotten:5
Average Rating:6/10
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Synopsis: A sizzling screen version of Bizet's Carmen updated for an all-black cast, including an especially sizzling Dandridge. Soldier Belafonte falls for Dandridge, a seductive factory worker. The lovers... [More]
Starring: Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, Roy Glenn
Director: Otto Preminger
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Reviews for Carmen Jones
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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 1.5/5 |
A film in which talented, attractive people sing ugly lyrics to beautiful music in other people's beautiful voices amid ugly shot framing and ill-timed cutting. Full Review |
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 B |
Electric performance by Dorothy Dandridge as the sultry whorish Carmen Jones. Full Review |
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3/4 |
Preminger's heavy-handed adaptation of a Broadway triumph combines gorgeous music with risible lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; the project is saved by a terrific cast. Full Review |
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Otto Preminger has transferred it to the screen with taste and imagination in an opulent production. Full Review |
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Impeccably liberal in its time, the film has not aged gracefully, although Dorothy Dandridge's performance in the lead remains a testimony to a black cinema that might have been. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Every frame, you feel, is freighted with the tension imposed by the never-appearing white folks. It was, however, laudable in its desire to showcase the talents of African-American performers who were denied opportunities in Hollywood. Full Review |
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3/5 |
The best reason to revisit Carmen Jones lies in Dorothy Dandridge's electrifying performance, which saw her become the first African-American to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Woefully miscast in places and extremely dubious in its portrayal of African-Americans but does boast an on-form Dorothy Dandridge. Full Review |
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Slinking through director Preminger's CinemaScope widescreen in slit skirts and tight blouses, Dandridge is naturally carnal the way summer is naturally warm. Full Review |
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The somewhat heavy-handed direction and the ultimately two-dimensional characters leave you admiring the workmanship without plucking at the necessary emotional/romantic heart-strings. Full Review |
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3.5/5 |
The results are certainly flawed, but rarely less than fascinating. Full Review |
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2/5 |
A truly dreadful film. Preminger can't be faulted for ambition, but for once, his execution is sorely lacking. Full Review |
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2/5 |
A crazy mixed-up film. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Worth seeing for Danridge's sultry, sweet performance.
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3/5 |
Interesting Preminger experiment. Modernizing with an all-black cast highlighted by Dandridge and Belafonte is first-rate.
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80/100 |
While the embarrassment of talent onscreen is a joy to watch, I can’t help be overwhelmed and a little saddened thinking how much of that talent went ignored by Hollywood most of the time. Full Review |
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3/5 |
No review available.
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CommentLatest News for Carmen Jones
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