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Movies / On DVD / Lady Sings the Blues
Lady Sings the Blues

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Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:9

Rotten:3

Average Rating:6.7/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Diana Ross made her film debut opposite Billy Dee Williams in this romantic biopic. LADY SINGS THE BLUES captures the essence of Billie Holliday in this semi-biographic sketch of the tragic life of... Diana Ross made her film debut opposite Billy Dee Williams in this romantic biopic. LADY SINGS THE BLUES captures the essence of Billie Holliday in this semi-biographic sketch of the tragic life of the famous blues singer. Academy Award Nominations: 5, including Best Actress--Diana Ross, Best (Original) Screenplay, Best Song Score. [More]

Starring: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James Callahan

Starring: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Scatman Crothers

Director: Sidney J. Furie

Director: Sidney J. Furie
Producer: Jay Weston, James S. White
Screenwriter: Terence McCloy, Chris Clark, Suzanne De Passe
Composer: Michel Legrand

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Nov 8, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Lady Sings the Blues

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1 - 14 (sorted by source)
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No review available.

comment Comment
03/18/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film

Clearly, it's an affront to Holiday's art, but just as clearly, it's a good piece of low entertainment.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The movie is filled with many of the great Billie Holiday songs, and Ross handles them in an interesting way. She doesn't sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate Holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of Holiday.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ross so perfectly captures the essence of Billie Holiday’s vocal style that it sends chills down your spine.

comment Comment
01/25/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/29/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Ross and director Sidney J. Furie seem to feel that the slower the song, the more serious the mood, so at times the film seems to be grinding almost to a halt

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/07/05
Don Willmott
Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com

Ross conveys the vulnerability and determination of her character across a very believable arc of maturation.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
01/24/06
Douglas Pratt
Douglas Pratt
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Great score, great singing, but overdramatic thanks to Ross.

comment Comment
11/01/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

No review available.

comment Comment
05/03/06
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

How is it possible for a movie that is otherwise so dreadful to contain such a singularly attractive performance in the title role?

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/09/05
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times

Berry Gordy's gift to Diana Ross was this lavish, bloated Billie Holiday biopic.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
10/28/05
Eric Henderson
Eric Henderson
Slant Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

View this film about Billie Holiday as a completely fictional story, and you'll enjoy it far more than you would otherwise.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
10/03/06
TV Guide's Movie Guide
 
 
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Latest News for Lady Sings the Blues

December 12, 2005: Richard Pryor Passes Away at 65
Richard Pryor passed away yesterday morning, and while he's probably best remembered for his incendiary stand-up material (as evidenced in 1979's "Live in Concert,"... More...

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