MovieChat Forums > Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Discussion > One of THE BEST performances I've EVER s...

One of THE BEST performances I've EVER seen!


Never seeing this before, I'd heard alot of good things about it. And, I'm not a big fan of Diana Ross...but, I LOVE Billie Holiday. And let me atleast say of how good Diana was at portraying her, I think Billie would've appreciated it. I am SHOCKED and appalled that Diana didn't win the Oscar. I can't believe she lost to that drunk Liza Minnelli. Back then I knew it was due to her being black. But, OMG! I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was sooooo INTENSE and BRILLIANT! It's too bad an idiot prejudice stood in the way of her and the little golden guy. But, this movie will no doubt continue to be a classic.

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

Yeah, agreed. I thought the film was an excellent showcase for Diana Ross's talents as it sure as hell had little much to do with the life of the real Billie Holiday. Ross plays her as a hotchacha girl. Even Billie's trademark lazy style of singing was ignored and the songs spiced up to suit Ross's pop style of singing. What's with the clothes and the 'romantic Louis' script line?

As a biopic it's crap. As a vehicle to showcase Diana Ross it's watchable and memorable.

reply

Excellent post. Billie Holliday's singing was nothing like Ross' and this film is not anywhere near an accurate biogaphy of Billie's life...it is, however, a great showcase for Ross' musical talent and her ability to look good in stylish 30's fashions.

reply

Maybe it's time they made another film about Billie holiday? And this time make it more realistic so people can see just how tragic and sad Billie's life really was.

reply

I AGREE.
CAN YOU HELP ME WITH SOMETHING.

BOBBY DARIN RECORDED THE LOVE THEME "HAPPY" FOR THIS FILM.

IS THIS SONG ON THE SOUNDTRACK ? DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND SAME.

I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFO.

THANKS

DAVE PETRILLO

reply

It's not on the soundtract for this movie. This is the first I've heard of it. I really don't know where you could obtain a copy.

reply

[deleted]

In comparison to Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli, I always thought that Diana had the edge. Diana Ross had a more difficult role to play as Billie Holiday (a heroin addicted jazz singer) than Liza as Sally Bowles (a Berlin Cabaret singer) in "Cabaret". I believe that Liza won the sentimental vote, because she was Judy Garland's daughter.

reply

[deleted]

I saw Cabaret and LSTB on consecutive nights back in '72 and remember arguing with my girlfriend at the time about who turned in the best performance - she was rooting for Diana and I for Liza. Having just 'revisited' both films last weekend, I now reckon that it is a draw; both artists pull the performance of a lifetime out of the hat and both deserved to win the Oscar that year. I still listen to my vinyl copy of LSTB which included dialogue from the movie and, as a result I can quote huge chunks of the script. I also once spent the entire time on a three hour flight from London discussing the movie with a complete stranger and exchanging lines from it!! Still in my top 10 of all time - but then so is Cabaret!

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

I still listen to my vinyl copy of LSTB which included dialogue from the movie and, as a result I can quote huge chunks of the script. I also once spent the entire time on a three hour flight from London discussing the movie with a complete stranger and exchanging lines from it!!


What a great story!

I also bought a vinyl copy of it after seeing the movie, and listened to it often.

"So that's how it is."
"Mmm hmm, that's how it is."

I can still hear that.

reply

Are you nuts...this movie does not even come close to the real life of Billie Holliday. It is a made up version of her life.

I've researched her life and this movie is a joke! Miss Ross is also a joke as Billie. She is way to skinny and she can't sing like Billie...not even close.

Why can't Hollywood ever get a story right? They need to do a remake and tell the truth...

Also they make Louis McKay look like a saint from heaven...he was a thug and often abused Billie. He was not a nice person in real life.

Billie would laugh at this movie!

reply

To be be fair, the movie was based on the book of the same title which was full of inaccuracies. If the source material isn't an accurate recounting of Billie's life, of course the movie is going to be even less accurate. Regardless, it was still a decent movie and Diana gave an amazing performance as Ms. Holiday. The only part that got me was Diana's portrayal of her younger years. She looked NOTHING like a 15 year old!

reply

ALthough it wasn't exactly a completely accurate portrayl of Billie Holiday's life, I agree that Diana was fantastic in this movie. The scene where she is trying to stay off drugs is especially good. Diana is a good actress, she should have done more movies.

"Why... so... serious?"

reply

[deleted]

You must have not seen too many performances. Ms. Ross was a "one note" actress who got what she deserved.....nothing. "That drunk" delivered the best performance of 1972. Not prejudice at all. One could sing. The other could act AND sign. Period.

reply

Yep

reply