Preview Clip: Porgy & Bess (1959, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Baily)
Having received mixed reviews, director Otto Preminger’s adaptation of Porgy & Bess disappeared fairly quickly following its initial release, the sad fate of many movies of the era with all- or mostly-black casts, especially ones that failed to achieve blockbuster status. Reportedly producer Samuel Goldwyn only had the rights to the underlying story and music for 15 years, after which point the distributor would have to renegotiate a deal with the estate of producer George Gershwin. But Gershwin reportedly hated the movie, which didn’t make enough of a splash to justify the extra expense. Still, the cast alone is enough to make you wish you could see it for yourself: Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Brock Peters, Nichelle Nichols, —these are some of the most talented, iconic entertainers of the 20th century, and it’s a shame that we can’t easily see them gathered on screen together.
Where to watch? Copies of an all-region DVD release from 2002 run to $100; a more recent release from Crescent Media is much cheaper, but the quality is pretty poor. It can also be found on YouTube, though, again, with poor picture quality.
