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The Josephine Baker StoryRating:
Release Date: 05 June, 2001 Retail Price: $9.98 OUR Price: $8.99 You SAVE: $0.99! Cast: Complete Cast (9 total) |
The Josephine Baker Story Reviews
Black is beautifull
Afro-americans have reason to be proud. The less said of white Americans during the time in question the better!
Her struggle never ended
This movie is very well done, sumptuous, touching. It seems to follow the major facts of the riotous 50-year entertainer Miss Josephine Baker's life, as well as I know them. (I own the 2-disc CD "Josephine Baker" copyright 1991, songs recorded by her in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, which has a wonderful and picture-filled booklet re the life & times of Ms. Baker.)
Although Ms. Baker was probably a mediocre dancer and probably a less than mediocre vocalist, she was truly a sensational entertainer. Her phenomenal fame was largely due to three factors: her unbridled and innocent sensuality and drive; the fact that she broke through in none other than Gay Paris; and the sheer energy of the times, right smack dab in the middle of the Roaring '20s!
What is most touching about this film is the portrayal of Ms. Baker's life with two of the men who helped her the most: Her second husband/manager, the Italian (played so sweetly by Ruben Blades); and her third husband/band leader, the Frenchman (played so sweetly.) Tragically, both long-term relationships end up less than sweet due largely to Josephine's drive and inability to heal her own terror at being hated for her race. She even ends up, somewhat horrifically and driving her to poverty, in an "experiment in brotherhood," creating a "rainbow family" of I believe 12 children of all different races and backgrounds. This obsession is what literally drove away her third very supportive and loving husband (the Frenchman) and resulted in her total humiliation and eviction from Les Milandes, her grand estate which she created out of her fame's money and eventually for her little orphans and numerous animals.
What is most beautiful about this film is Miss Lynn Whitfield and the gorgeous costumes and theatrical performances. The locations and times are portrayed very realistically. All of the acting is quite superb.
In the end of it all, one may have a difficult time discerning if Josephine Baker really triumphed in her life, if she really felt she made a race relations difference, because after all, she did lose her grand estate and all her money and possessions, two wonderful husbands and her "rainbow tribe" because of her obsession.
"Josephine Baker was a true original and we'll never see the likes of her again." - Alan Eichler
More Customer Reviews (8 total)
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