Mahogany (1975)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Berry Gordy
(more)

Writers:

Toni Amber (story)
John Byrum (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 March 1976 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with

Plot:

Tracy, a young ghetto woman, puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world's top designers...

Plot Keywords:

Ghetto | Fashion | Famous Score | Career | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Diana Ross	...	Tracy
Billy Dee Williams	...	Brian
Anthony Perkins	...	Sean
Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Christian Rosetti
Beah Richards	...	Florence
Nina Foch	...	Miss Evans
Marisa Mell	...	Carlotta Gavina
Lenard Norris	...	Wil
Jerome Arnold	...	Campaign Worker
Pemon Rami	...	Campaign Worker
Obelo	...	Campaign Worker
Ira Rogers	...	Stalker
Kristine Cameron	...	Instructress
Ted Liss	...	Sweatshop Foreman
Bruce Vilanch	...	Dress Manufacturer
Don Howard	...	Dress Manufacturer
Albert Rosenberg	...	Dress Manufacturer
Marvin Corman	...	Cab Driver
E. Rodney Jones	...	Radio Announcer (voice)
Dan Daniel	...	Giuseppe (as Daniel Daniele)
Princess Galitzine	...	Princess Galitzine
Jacques Stany	...	Auctioneer - Fashion Show
Achille Brugnini	...	Salesman (as Achille Brunini)
Edward Van Sickle	...	Ad Agency Executive (as Edward Van Sycle)
Giovanni Di Benedetto	...	Ad Agency Executive (as Gianni Di Benedetto)
Roger Bill Brown	...	Ad Agency Executive
C. Mitchell	...	Ad Agency Executive
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Denise Gordy	...	(uncredited)
Jesse Kitten	...	Unemployed Lathe Operator (uncredited)
Robert Townsend	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Berry Gordy
Tony Richardson		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Toni Amber		story
John Byrum		screenplay

Produced by
Jack Ballard	....	producer
Rob Cohen	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Masser

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Peter Zinner

Casting by
Joe Scully

Art Direction by
Aurelio Crugnola
Leon Ericksen		(as Leon Erickson)

Costume Design by
Diana Ross

Makeup Department
Franco Corridoni	....	makeup artist
Wally Schwartz	....	makeup artist
Jerry Turnage	....	makeup supervisor (as Jerry Tournage)

Production Management
Mario Olivieri	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Piero Amati	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Don H. Matthews	....	sound recordist (as Don Matthews)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kay Rose	....	sound editor

Casting Department
Pemon Rami	....	casting

Music Department
Lee Holdridge	....	musical director

Other crew
Sioux Richards	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Motown Productions
• Nikor Productions
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• CIC (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

41st Street & Ellis Avenue, Oakland, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Motown Productions

Trivia:

It is well known that 'Anthony Perkins' disliked Diana Ross intensely. He felt she was an "amateur" and below his standard as a serious actor. Between takes he insulted her a number of times and in front of the crew. Ross is said to have kept her cool, however and completed the picture with dignity.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.11)" (2005)

Sui generis...but enjoyable.

"Mahogany" is one of those movies you don't necessarily want to go out of your way to see, but want to <have seen>. Fortunately, late night cable frequently provides one with the opportunity to catch up on the classics. The plot is straight out of 1937, with the slightly disturbing--to modern ears--message that one's own personal ambition should always take a back seat to love. Diana Ross is luminous, funny, charming and beautiful in a role that doesn't ask much of her but to pose - her delivery and timing are good, but the dialogue she's asked to utter sounds pretty campy today. Anthony Perkins as a creepy, dangerous character - wow, big stretch. Billy Dee Williams as the Honest Politician Who Loves Her - well, he's good, but you could have hired a Steiff teddy bear to play that role. Love those costumes. Have to wonder whether Tracy's designs were set up to be appallingly bad (and they are) so that the audience would object less to her decision to give up on the fashion world.

In my view, the best quote is not the oft-trotted out one about success, but: "You're only young once; you can be immature forever."

The overall "stand by your man" message is singularly abhorrent, but "Mahogany" is such fine kitsch that even the staunchest feminist will laugh, despite herself.