Mahogany (film)
| Mahogany | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Berry Gordy |
| Produced by |
Jack Ballard Rob Cohen |
| Written by |
Toni Amber (story) Bob Merrill John Byrum |
| Starring |
Diana Ross Billy Dee Williams Jean-Pierre Aumont Anthony Perkins |
| Music by | Michael Masser |
| Cinematography | David Watkin |
| Editing by |
Cutry Zinner Peter Zinner |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release dates | October 8, 1975 |
| Running time | 109 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Mahogany is a 1975 American romantic drama film directed by Berry Gordy and produced by Motown Productions. The Motown founder Gordy took over the film direction after British filmmaker Tony Richardson was dismissed from the film. Mahogany stars Diana Ross as Tracy Chambers, a poor African-American woman who rises to become a popular fashion designer in Rome. Fresh from the success of Lady Sings the Blues, this film served as Ross' follow-up feature film. It was released on October 8, 1975, and performed well at the box office.
Synopsis
Tracy Chambers is a sassy industrious young woman living in the projects of Chicago who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She has worked her way up from salesgirl to secretary and assistant to the head buyer at a luxury department store (modeled after, and filmed at, Marshall Field's on State Street, Chicago).[1] Her boyfriend Brian Walker, played by Billy Dee Williams, is running unsuccessfully for office in the district. When Brian insists Tracy give up her dreams for his, Tracy flees in the middle of the night for Rome, where she becomes a muse to a former client.
Cast
- Diana Ross as Tracy Chambers
- Billy Dee Williams as Brian Walker
- Anthony Perkins as Sean
- Jean-Pierre Aumont as Count Christian Rosetti
- Beah Richards as Florence
- Nina Foch as Miss Evans
- Marisa Mell as Carlotta Gavina
- Lenard Norris as Wil
- Jerome Arnold as Campaign Worker
- Pemon Rami as Campaign Worker
- Obelo as Campaign Worker
- Ira Rogers as Stalker
- Kristine Cameron as Instructress
- Ted Liss as Sweatshop Foreman
- Bruce Vilanch as Dress Manufacturer
- Don Howard as Dress Manufacturer
- Albert Rosenberg as Dress Manufacturer
- Marvin Corman as Cab Driver
- E. Rodney Jones as Radio Announcer (voice)
- Dan Daniel as Giuseppe (as Daniel Daniele)
- Princess Irene Galitzine as Princess Irene Galitzine
- Jacques Stany as Auctioneer – Fashion Show
- Achille Brugnini as Salesman (as Achille Brunini)
- Edward Van Sickle as Ad Agency Executive (as Edward Van Sycle)
- Giovanni Di Benedetto as Ad Agency Executive (as Gianni Di Benedetto)
- Roger Bill Brown as Ad Agency Executive
- C. Mitchell as Ad Agency Executive
- Denise Gordy (uncredited)
- Jesse Kitten as Unemployed Lathe Operator (uncredited)
- Robert Townsend – Extra (uncredited)
Theme song
The film includes a Ross-sung theme song, "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)", which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. It held the number-one spot for one week (January 18–January 24, 1976), replacing "I Write the Songs" by Barry Manilow and replaced by "Love Rollercoaster" by the Ohio Players. "Theme from Mahogany", written by Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin and produced by Masser, was the best-reviewed element of Mahogany [citation needed] and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song was later covered by Mariah Carey in 1998 and Sony Music labelmate Jennifer Lopez the following year.
Awards
The film was nominated for the best original song Academy Award (Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin).
Release and Reception
Mahogany was released on VHS home video in the 1990s, and was issued on DVD on May 1, 2007.[citation needed]
Despite box office success, reviews are mostly negative, and currently holds a 23% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
References
- ↑ Mahogany and Marshall Field's
- ↑ "Mahogany (1975)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
External links
- Mahogany at the Internet Movie Database