Porgy and Bess (1959)

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Dorothy Heyward (play)
DuBose Heyward (libretto)

Release Date:

24 June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Introducing a new era in motion pictures!

Plot:

In this legendary Gershwin opera set among the black residents of a fishing village in 1912 South Carolina...

Plot Keywords:

South Carolina | Fishing Village | Drugs | Murder | Rescue

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Porgy
Dorothy Dandridge	...	Bess
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Sportin' Life
Pearl Bailey	...	Maria
Brock Peters	...	Crown
Leslie Scott	...	Jake
Diahann Carroll	...	Clara
Ruth Attaway	...	Serena Robbins
Claude Akins	...	Detective
Clarence Muse	...	Peter
Everdinne Wilson	...	Annie
Joel Fluellen	...	Robbins
Earl Jackson	...	Mingo
Moses LaMarr	...	Nelson
Margaret Hairston	...	Lily

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn/Warner Hollywood Studios - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

Dorothy Dandridge and Pearl Bailey were also reluctant to be in the film, until they heard that Poitier and Sammy Davis, Jr. were going to be in it. Sammy Davis, Jr. was the only one of the four leads who was actually eager to play his role in the movie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mary Tyler Moore: Bess, You Is My Daughter Now (#1.3)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Gone, Gone, Gone

Why is this film not on video??

I was @ 13 yrs of age when I saw this greatly underappreciated film at The ADAMS theatre in Newark, NJ, I purchased the Program, and later bought the soundtrack... still have both.... I am now 55 + yrs.. and have not seen it since (possibly once on network TV, in 1960's???) One of the greatest casts ever assembled, great score and production , please let another generation see this great film... It was my introduction to opera, and aided with my understanding of Tolerance.. Please family of Gerswhins or Premingers, release this classic soon !!