I SAW "THE WIZ" OVER THE WEEKEND. It was an accident. I was flipping around the guide and saw that it had just started. Let me be clear. "The Wiz" is a terrible, terrible movie. The usually superb director, the late Sidney Lumet, had no clue what he was shooting. There were long shots where there should be close-ups; close ups for days on Diana's face when at least every once in a while there should have been a mid-shot. Many times there were no establishing shots and we saw a totally black background and just a head.
But there I was, looking at Diana with Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor, icons all......46 YEARS AGO. Richard hadn't been burned. Michael wasn't on nightly propofol. They had futures and so much talent. It was hard to watch, knowing their fates.
DIANA ROSS, NOW APPROACHING HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, is a survivor. As I watched her work in "The Wiz," mostly in the ballad singing numbers, I was reminded once again of her acting talent that was smashed down by an industry that simply doesn't cast enough black actresses in films to give them a long career like a Bette Davis, for instance.
Diana should have won the Oscar for "Lady Sings the Blues." Period.
But there I was, looking at Diana with Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor, icons all......46 YEARS AGO. Richard hadn't been burned. Michael wasn't on nightly propofol. They had futures and so much talent. It was hard to watch, knowing their fates.
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| Lumet on a happier note |
DIANA ROSS, NOW APPROACHING HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, is a survivor. As I watched her work in "The Wiz," mostly in the ballad singing numbers, I was reminded once again of her acting talent that was smashed down by an industry that simply doesn't cast enough black actresses in films to give them a long career like a Bette Davis, for instance.
Diana should have won the Oscar for "Lady Sings the Blues." Period.
She had two things working against her---one visible and one just not talked about------The industry greatly resented Berry Gordy for spending so much money advertising for her Oscar that it turned into resentment for him and she paid the price, and, two, she was black. Yes, I said it and it's the truth.
In 1972 she was the Golden Girl, exactly the same way Jennifer Lawrence was when she won her Oscar. Jennifer was and is beloved and didn't have any seen or unseen negatives. Would Diana have won the Oscar if Berry had cooled it? Hard to tell, because of the immeasurable, insidious prejudice.
The Best Actress nominees that year were:
- Jane Fonda – Klute as Bree Daniels--winner
- Julie Christie – McCabe & Mrs. Miller as Constance Miller
- Glenda Jackson – Sunday Bloody Sunday as Alex Greville
- Vanessa Redgrave – Mary, Queen of Scots as Mary, Queen of Scots
- Janet Suzman – Nicholas and Alexandra as Empress Alexandra
IT'S 2014 and someone may counter with look at Halle Berry or Lupita Nyong 'o. OK, let's look. Halle Berry did win the best actress Oscar and it was thrilling. She's also half-white. And what's she doing now, just a few short years since her win? A TV series. Really? She was fortunate to have done a couple of movies as a romantic or strong leading lady, but I've noticed that women of color end up in gimmicky big movies like "X-Men.'
Case in point, Lupita Nyong'o. This magnificent creature, who just won an Oscar, will probably follow up her big dramatic role in "12 Years" with the new "Star Wars"--another gimmick movie. We'll see what happens after that. Will she be cast as a romantic lead against George Clooney or Brad Pitt? We'll see...won't we. I'd hate to be right again. UPDATE: LUPITA IS PROBABLY NOT DOING "STAR WARS." HALLELUJAH. PLEASE LET HER HAVE AUDREY HEPBURN'S CAREER.
And as for you, Diana. Happy Birthday, and rest assured there are those who recognize how you got screwed by Hollywood. What a wonderful actress you are. Stay proud of yourself.
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