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Actors: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Willams, Richard Pryror
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Lady Sings the Blues |
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Diana Ross's gives a dramatic performance as the late great jazz singer; Bille Holliday. The movie first starts outwith Bille at one of the lowest period point in her life; being reinstated in a mental institution in a strait jacket. Moments later flashbacks of the tragic singer's life is shown. At the age of 15 years old, Billie worked as a housemaid at a brothel. It was at this place where a drunken man hitted on her but rejected his advances. She was followed home from work by the drunk but unfortunately he sexually assualted her. Despite this incindent Holliday continued working at brothel until she met the Piano Man whom was a pianst (and later her bandmate), which encouraged her to try out for a signing career after hearing her beautiful voice. Things seem to look up for Holliday as she played in a club as a carabet singer. While watching the singer perform, Louis McKay (soon to be manager then husband) told her he would lead her to success. Success she gotten as she was one of the greatest singers of her time, but all the pressure and racism she endured were overwhelming which led her to drugs.
--Alicia M., Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Lady Sings the Blues |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1960's-1970's
Inner struggle or disability
Yes
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- singer
Druggie/Wino problems?
- drugs
Brain/Body not working?
- mental illness
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- singer/musician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type
- (woman) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average build
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Misc setting
- mental hospital
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Jazz/r&b
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Alicia M.
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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