Watch Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is a 1999 biographical film that tells the story of Dorothy Dandridge, the first African American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie stars Halle Berry as Dorothy and features Brent Spiner and Klaus Maria Brandauer in supporting roles. The film opens with a young Dorothy performing with her sister Vivian at the Cotton Club in Harlem in 1937. From there, we see her rise to fame as a singer and actress in Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, facing racism and prejudice along the way. We also see her struggle with personal demons, including a tumultuous marriage and a battle with addiction.

Throughout the film, we see Dorothy's determination and resilience in the face of adversity. Despite being told by Hollywood executives that she was not "marketable" as a leading lady, she continued to pursue her dream and eventually landed the lead role in Carmen Jones, the first major studio film to star an African American woman. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Dorothy an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Halle Berry delivers a powerful performance as Dorothy, capturing both her beauty and charisma as well as her vulnerability and pain. Brent Spiner plays Dorothy's manager Earl Mills, who helps her navigate the ups and downs of show business, while Klaus Maria Brandauer plays her husband Harold Nicholas, a talented dancer who struggles with his own demons.

One of the strengths of the film is its attention to the historical context in which Dorothy lived and worked. We see the racism and discrimination she faced both in Hollywood and in her personal life, including being forced to enter establishments through the back door and being denied access to hotels and restaurants. At the same time, the film does not shy away from the complexity of Dorothy's character, showing her struggles with addiction and her complicated relationships with the men in her life.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is a well-crafted biopic that does justice to the remarkable life of its subject. It is a testament to the power of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity, and a reminder of the challenges that African American women have faced in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.